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Grass Like

Ammophila arenaria

marram grass

A robust and vigorous native grass, found all around the coast, spreading through tough rhizomes and producing clumps of pale, greyish-green, inrolled foliage that persists all year. Leafy stems up to 1.2m tall produce compact beige flowerheads in summer. Widely planted to help consolidate drifting dunes, and a food plant for several moth caterpillars

Other common names

European beach grass
marram
see moremel grass
sea matweed
sea reed
moresg

Synonyms

Ammophila arundinacea
Ammophila arenaria subsp. arundinacea
see morePsamma arenaria

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Plant nurseries
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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

1.5–2.5 metres

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed

Drought resistance

Yes

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Poaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: Yes
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Matforming, Tufted
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Europe

How to grow

Cultivation

Grows mainly on sand dunes, where it can be the dominant plant. Copes with moving sand and salt wind, and thrives in well-drained soil in an open, sunny position

Propagation

Propagate by seed or by division of rhizomes

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Coastal
Low Maintenance
Banks and slopes

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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