Vascular Plants of North Carolina
Account for Big Cordgrass - Spartina cynosuroides   (L.) Roth
Members of Poaceae:
Members of Spartina with account distribution info or public map:
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Section 5 » Order Cyperales » Family Poaceae
Author(L.) Roth
DistributionOuter Banks, barrier islands, and outer Coastal Plain.

Maritime, MA to northern FL and eastern TX.
AbundanceUncommon to locally abundant; usually forms monospecific patches or strings along tidal channels. The NCNHP considers this as S5, but it is not overly common, at least as compared with the other two coastal members of the genus -- S. alterniflorus and S. patens -- each of which is certainly common and widespread and deserving of an S5 rank. The website editors do not recommend a rank of S4, but that may be a more truthful rank than S5.
HabitatBrackish and fresh tidal marshes, often on slight elevations or along tidal channels. Typically found closest to a channel, with other graminoids behind it -- such as Juncus roemerianus, Cladium jamaicense, and others.
PhenologyFlowering and fruiting June-September.
IdentificationThis is by far our tallest member of the genus, the stems reportedly up 11 feet (FNA), but most often 5-8 feet tall in NC. The leaves usually grow 2-3 feet long and are long-tapered. Inflorescences are terminal and about a foot long, with many spreading to ascending branches. Its height carries it above other marsh plants except Common Reed (Phragmites australis). That alien species can grow with it and often out-competes it; they can be easily confused by inexperienced people, though Phragmites has a much bushier/denser inflorescence, darker green leaves, and leaves angling off the stem (as opposed to generally erect/ascending leaves in Big Cordgrass).
Taxonomic Comments
Other Common Name(s)Giant Cordgrass
State RankS5
Global RankG5
State Status
US Status
USACE-agcpOBL link
USACE-empOBL link
County Map - click on a county to view source of record.
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photographercommentsphoto_linkcountyobsType
BA SorrieMargin of sound at roadside, Colington, Sept 2022. DareBIUPhoto_natural
B.A. SorrieSame data. Photo_non_NCPhoto_non_NC
B.A. SorrieMA, Wareham, brackish marsh, 1980s. Photo_non_NCPhoto_non_NC
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