Urochloa maxima
(formerly Panicum maximum)
guinea grass

Non-Native in Florida

Here is another large non-native grass growing in Florida. Guinea grass is native to Africa. It is common in fields, groves, roadsides and other disturbed sites through most of Florida (Wunderlin, 1998). It looks very similar to another invasive plant, Johnson grass (Sorghum halepense).

Guinea grass may be found from Florida and Georgia to California and Hawaii (Kartesz, 1999). (Kartesz refers to this plant as Urochloa maxima.)

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.