Light. Plant in full sun. It also grows in part sun.
Water. Water regularly while it establishes. It grows best with some moisture but survives very long dry spells once rooted. Unlike full-size Fakahatchee grass, it does not like flooding.
Soil and feeding. It grows in sandy and limestone soils, neutral to alkaline, and needs good drainage.
Size. Forms a clump about 2–3 ft tall and wide.
Pruning. It needs little trimming, but it can look messy after cold spells. Cut out browned leaves then; new growth returns in spring.
Good to know. Native to South Florida pine rocklands and listed as threatened in Florida. It is a larval host for the Byssus skipper, and birds eat the seeds. It has little tolerance for salty wind or salt spray.
Sources: Florida Native Plant Society Plant Database: Tripsacum floridanum · UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: Fakahatchee Grass
