Sand Cordgrass, Delivered and Planted in SW Florida

Wet swale or dry sand, salt spray or none, sand cordgrass takes it. This Florida native clumping grass grows 3 to 5 ft tall and is best for low-maintenance native plantings, retention pond edges and coastal yards. Full sun and a late-winter haircut keep the clumps full and upright.

Light:: Full sun
Water:: Handles both dry sand and wet, seasonally flooded soil; drought tolerant once established
Salt:: Moderate to high; handles salt spray

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Sand Cordgrass sizes we deliver and plant

Every size below is planted by our crew, set at the right depth and watered in. Send the size and how many, and we text back a planted price, usually within the hour during the day.

Plant	Sizes
Sand Cordgrass	3 Gallon

Sand Cordgrass in SW Florida, at a glance

Mature size here: 3 to 5 ft tall and 3 to 4 ft wide in a dense clump
Light: Full sun
Water: Handles both dry sand and wet, seasonally flooded soil; drought tolerant once established
Salt tolerance: Moderate to high; handles salt spray
Cold tolerance: Very cold hardy; foliage may brown in a frost and the clump regrows from the base
Growth rate: Moderate
Spacing: 3 to 4 ft on center for a mass planting
Florida native: Yes, Florida native
Botanical name: Spartina bakeri

Where Sand Cordgrass works in a SW Florida yard

Use sand cordgrass in masses for a soft, wild texture along a swale, a retention pond bank, a canal-side yard or a back edge you do not want to mow. Its fine blades move in the wind and tie in well with muhly grass, coontie and firebush.

For a looser look, plant in irregular groups of three to five. Give each clump about 3 ft of room to fill out.

Native grass plantings
Retention pond and swale edges
Salt-sprayed coastal yards
Soft, low-water screening

How our crew plants it

Set each 3 gallon clump at the depth it grew in the pot, in a hole twice as wide, spaced 3 to 4 ft apart, then water in well and mulch lightly. In a low or wet spot, plant at the normal grade and let rain do the rest. New plants can be watered extra under Lee and Collier rules.

Care after planting

Cut the clumps back to 6 to 12 in in late winter, every year or two and before new growth starts, to remove old growth and keep them full.
Wear gloves and long sleeves when cutting back, since the blades can be sharp-edged.
Skip fertilizer on established plantings, because this native thrives in poor sandy soil.
Water new clumps regularly through their first dry season, then leave them to rain and runoff.

Sand Cordgrass questions we hear

Can sand cordgrass grow in both wet and dry areas?+

Yes. Sand cordgrass is native to Florida's sandy flatwoods and marsh edges, and it handles dry sand as well as soil that floods in the rainy season. That makes it useful on swales and retention pond edges that swing between extremes. It is not a plant for deep, permanent water.

How tall does sand cordgrass get, and how far apart do I plant it?+

Expect clumps 3 to 5 ft tall and about 3 to 4 ft wide. Plant clumps 3 to 4 ft apart for a mass that fills in over a couple of seasons. Growth is moderate, and the clumps get fuller each year.

When should I cut back sand cordgrass?+

Cut it back in late winter, before spring growth starts, to about 6 to 12 in. That clears the old, brown growth and keeps the clump full instead of dead in the center. Every year or two is plenty, and gloves help because the blades can be sharp.

Updated October 2026