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Native Plant Society of Texas

Brownseed Paspalum

Paspalum plicatulum

Other common name(s):

Brownseed Paspale

Family:

Poaceae (Grass Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

East Central Texas Plains, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Southern Post Oak Savanna
Coastal Sand Plain, Floodplains and Low Terraces4, Laguna Madre Barrier Island and Coastal Marshes, Lower Rio Grande Alluvial Floodplain, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Mid-Coast Barrier Islands and Coastal Marshes, Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Southern Subhumid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Texas-Louisiana Coastal Marshes
Southern Blackland Prairie
Flatwoods, Floodplains and Low Terraces3, Pleistocene Fluvial Terraces, Red River Bottomlands, Southern Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Grass & Sedge

Height

2
to
3.5
ft.

Spread

.5
to
1
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Moist

Light Requirement

Part Shade

Water Requirement

Low

Native Habitat

Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Green

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer

Seasonal Interest

Seeds, Nesting Material

Wildlife Benefit

Birds, Small Mammals

Maintenance

Spreads by rhizomes. Can be codominant with Little Bluestem in prairies. Native habitat: coastal prairies, along forest margins, and in disturbed areas. Propagation: clump division, seed.

Comments

Blooms May-July. A warm-season bunch grass. Florets each have a large brown spot. The foliage is wiry, green to gray-green or blue-green.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Paspalum texanum

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed No Treatment Direct sow in the ground. expect germination within 7-14 days, making this a relatively quick process. Collect seeds when they turn brown and dry. While dried seeds re-imbibe if stored in humid conditions and rapidly lose viability, seed stored in a dry situation can last for two years. https://greg.app/paspalum-plicatulum-overview/#:~:text=Next%2C%20let's%20explore%20the%20propagation,Seedling%20Development%20%F0%9F%8C%BF
Corm Division Simply separate the clumps carefully and replant them immediately to ensure they thrive in their new spots. The best time for this is early spring or fall. https://greg.app/paspalum-plicatulum-overview/#:~:text=Next%2C%20let's%20explore%20the%20propagation,Seedling%20Development%20%F0%9F%8C%BF
Seed Stratification There is little or no post-harvest dormancy, and any dormancy can be broken by chilling seed at 7 ºC for 30 days if necessary. Seed germinates at 20‒35 °C. Seedling vigour is low, so it is best sown into a well-prepared, weed-free seedbed. It should be sown at 2‒3 kg/ha, no more than 10‒15 mm deep, then rolled to provide close contact with the soil. https://tropicalforages.info/text/entities/paspalum_plicatulum.htm#:~:text=It%20is%20normally%20planted%20from,close%20contact%20with%20the%20soil.

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason