Spartina patens (saltmeadow cordgrass)

Saltmeadow cordgrass is a haylike grass that is found in the upper areas of brackish coastal salt marshes. It is a slender and wiry plant that grows in thick mats 1–4' tall, spreading by rhizomes. Because its stems are weak, the wind and water action can bend the grass, creating the appearance of a field of tufts and cowlicks. This plant does well in full sun, medium to wet moisture (marshy conditions). Flowers are a deep purple from June to October and turn brown in the winter months. 

Saltmeadow cordgrass is a common plant of brackish salt marshes of the Chesapeake Bay and Maryland's coastal bays. It grows along the Atlantic Coast from Canada's Maritime Provinces to Florida. It has been introduced to areas of the West Coast, where it is considered a notorious and harmful invasive species. Cordgrass grows in irregularly flooded areas of salt and brackish marshes. It grows 1–4 feet tall and spreads by rhizome, so it is valuable for shoreline erosion control. This grass provides a rich habitat for marsh birds, crustaceans, and mollusks. It is an important food source for ducks and seaside sparrows. Mats of salt hay grass are inhabited by many small animals. Cordgrass marshes also serve as pollution filters and as buffers against flooding and shoreline erosion.

BONAP Native Range Map (bright green indicates county native, dark green indicates state native)  

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