This Fall, Keep an Eye Out for Japanese Stiltgrass

Americorps • September 11, 2019

At MUCC, we combine education, advocacy and on-the-ground work to conserve and protect our natural resources. Speaking to all who read this blog, our rich natural resources are under a constant threat from invasive species. As stewards of our land, it is our job to become educated about these invasive species and take appropriate action to manage and eradicate them. We at MUCC support  Michigan’s Terrestrial Invasive Species Management Plan  so that Michigan citizens may continue to enjoy their natural resources for generations to come. This blog post highlights one invasive that has made its way onto the state’s top priority list: Japanese Stiltgrass

What is it? Japanese Stiltgrass is a terrestrial invasive species that has been detected in Michigan. This stiltgrass is a delicate, low-growing annual grass. The stems of the plant sprawl over one another and root at nodes. The leaves are short (3-8 cm) pale green and lance-shaped with a shiny, slightly off-center, mid-rib. During the autumn, the tops of the plants turn purple or brown , and in the winter the thatch turns an orange color. These plants can get up to 6 feet tall but average around 1 to 3 feet in height.

 

How did it get here? The first documentation of Japanese Stiltgrass was recorded in Tennessee in 1919. This plant was introduced as packing material for goods from Asia. Japanese Stiltgrass is native to China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia and India.

Habitat? Like almost all invasives, this plant is highly adaptable. It can grow almost anywhere from deep shade to full sun and can tolerate varying levels of soil acidity and moisture. Although, it does prefer forested floodplains.

So, what’s the potential damage?  This plant is a big-time reproducer, producing 100-1,000 seeds per plant. This seed can then travel rapidly by water flow, wildlife, foot and vehicular traffic. Deer do not browse this stiltgrass and with no major browsers praying on it, the plant continues to spread.

“This invasive species chokes out the wildlife around it, and grows and spreads at an alarming rate. It decreases biodiversity and forces animals and plants alike out of their natural habitats. It is widely thought that this species is among one of the most dangerous invasives, as it has spread throughout the country very quickly in relatively little time.” ( michigannature.wordpress.com )

What can I do?  First, report this invasive at http://www.michigan.gov/invasivespecies or through the MISIN smartphone app. Second, the roots do not venture too deep into the soil and are fairly easy to pull up from the ground but they need to be disposed of in a trash bag once you pull them.

For more information:

Recent Posts

The Legacy of Michigan Logging

By Olivia Triltsch • April 24, 2025
Historically, Michigan experienced a lumber era in which the state was a leading producer for 50 years starting in 1860.

MUCC celebrates a successful Clinton River Cleanup

By Katelyn Helsel • April 23, 2025
Rochester Hills, MI — On the Ground, MUCC’s volunteer stewardship program, celebrated its 250th habitat improvement project in Oakland County this past weekend. In partnership with Metro-West Steelheaders and the Clinton River Watershed Council , 62 volunteers removed more than 460 pounds of trash from the Clinton River watershed and surrounding areas, restoring more than 80 acres of fish and wildlife habitat. Volunteers focused on picking up trash and other debris in the river near Yates Park and along various walking trails near the Yates Cider Mill. Many different items were collected, including a couple of tires, fishing line, old cans, a sign, and even a car bumper. “We definitely wanted to clean up as much trash as possible because that's going to help the watershed as a whole, and it’s going to clean up the river for both humans aesthetically, and also the animals that live in it, and create safer drinking water” said Olivia Triltsch, MUCC’s Habitat Program and Partnerships Coordinator.

Mayflies, Stoneflies, and Caddisflies, Oh My!

By Olivia Triltsch • April 17, 2025
In addition to their impact on water quality, these three orders of insects are an important part of the diet of game fish, making anglers, especially fly fishermen, interested in the conservation of these small animals.
More Posts