Imperata cylindrica
Cogon grass

Non-Native in Florida

Cogon grass is among the world's worst weeds. It is a serious weed of drylands in Florida, but also occurs in places that become briefly flooded. It can cover large areas. Native to the warmer regions of the Old World, it was brought into the U.S. as an experimental forage. It has spread, partially through its use as a packing material.


Cogon grass is a NON-NATIVE grass; from extensive rhizomes; stems spreading, 3-10 ft. tall; leaf blades hairy at base, tapering to narrow base, midvein off-center, margins sharp; ligule brown, papery; sheaths smooth to hairy; inflorescence showy white, cylindrical, plume-like, hairy; flowers hairy

For general information about cogon grass, download this UF/IFAS-EDIS publication, Weeds in the Sunshine: Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica), Biology, Ecology and Management in Florida, by G.E. MacDonald, D.G. Shilling, B.J. Brecke, J.F. Gaffney, K.A. Langeland and J.T. Ducar.

For more information and pictures about cogon grass, as contained in the Langeland/Burks book, Identification & Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas, download this Acrobat .PDF file.


The UF/IFAS Assessment lists plants according to their invasive status in Florida. View the list here.

Click here to see the herbarium specimen image of the UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA HERBARIUM DIGITAL IMAGING PROJECTS.

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