Erianthus (giganteus)

John M. Englert USDA NRCS - Norman A. Berg National Plant Materials Center Bldg. 509, BARC - East, E. Beaver Dam Road Beltsville, Maryland 20705 (301) 504-8175 (301) 504-8741 (fax) john.englert@wdc.usda.gov http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/mdpmc/

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Family Scientific Name:	Poaceae
Family Common Name:	Grass Family
Scientific Name:	Erianthus giganteus (Walter)
Common Name:	Sugar-cane plumegrass
Species Code:	ERIGIG
Ecotype:	Great Smoky Mountains National Park
General Distribution:	Moist ground and old fields; New Jersey to Kentucky; Arkansas south to Florida and Texas.
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Propagules (seeds, cuttings, poles, etc.)
Stock Type:	1+0 container
Time To Grow:	14 Weeks
Target Specifications:	Stock Type: Plug container seedling.<br> Height: Around 6-8" after cut-backs.<br> Caliper: N/A.<br> Root System: Full, firm plug which leaves no loose soil when pulled.
Propagule Collection:	Collected in 1999.
Propagule Processing:	Seed Processing: Seed was hand-picked from stems and hand-rubbed to remove fluff. Cleaning was finished with a small clipper, screen 1/24 top, solid bottom, air on low, vent opened 1/4.Seeds/Kg: Approximately 500,000; 100 seed weight was 0.2 grams. Germination: No test. Germination in greenhouse was 27% of seeds sown or 133 plugs per gram. Purity: 82%.
Pre-Planting Treatments:	Seed Treatments: 3 weeks cool stratification @ 45§F, and 35% relative humidity.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	Propagation Environment: Greenhouse with alternating day/night temperatures (75-85§F daytime and 65-68§Fnights) and 12-14 hours of daylight extended with high pressure sodium lights from 4:30 to 10:30 p.m. Seed Propagation Method: Hand sown in germination plug trays. Container Type and Volume: Seeds were sown in 392 plug trays and transplanted to Ropak multipots. Growing Media: Seeds are sown in Fafard Germinating Mix. Seedlings are transplanted into a 2:1 Sunshine #5:Compro mix (one 3.8 cu. ft. bale Sunshine mix, 2 bags Compro) with 180 day Nutricote (16-6-8) SR fertilizer incorporated @ 20 oz. per batch of mix.
Establishment Phase:	Sowing Date: 12/13/99. Stratified in cooler until 1/7/00, placed on bench 1/7/00. % Emergence and Date: 50% of total seedlings that eventually germinated had emerged by day 14; the balance by day 28. Sowing/Planting Technique: Seed is sown in germination mix in 392 plug trays, drenched with fungicide, covered with clear plastic and cold-stratified in cooler at 40§F, 35% humidity for 3 weeks. Trays are then moved to bench and kept evenly moist while covered with plastic until germinated. Establishment Phase: Seedlings were transplanted to Ropak multipots about 17-20 days after emergence. Smaller seedlings were hand-dug out of germination trays and transplanted with no adverse effects.
Active Growth Phase:	Rapid growth phase: Several cutbacks were performed to strengthen stems and promote root growth. Plugs grew steadily but not rapidly.
Hardening Phase:	Hardening Phase: 2-3 weeks prior to out-planting, fertilization is stopped, water is decreased and greenhouse temperatures are reduced or plugs are moved outdoors.
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:	Harvest Date: Delivered to Park in early May. Total Time to Harvest: About 12-14 weeks from germination to finished plug. Storage Conditions: N/A; plugs are not over-wintered. Seed storage: Seed bags in seed cooler held at 40§F and 35% relative humidity
Length of Storage:	N/A.
Other Comments:	Comments: This was the first time this species was attempted. There were no previous propagation records.
References:	Gleason, H and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. Second ed. Bronx, NY: New York Botanical Garden. 910 pp. Hitchcock. 1950. Manual of the Grasses of the United States. 2nd edition, U.S. Government Printing Office.

Citation:

Kujawski, Jennifer L.; Davis, Kathy M.. 2001. Propagation protocol for production of Propagules (seeds, cuttings, poles, etc.) Erianthus giganteus (Walter) plants 1+0 container; USDA NRCS - Norman A. Berg National Plant Materials Center Beltsville, Maryland. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2025/04/20). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.