Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Grass
Shrub
Origin
United States, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Texas
Southern Africa
Types
Virginia water horehound
Carissa bispinosa, Carissa carandas
Number of Varieties
-20
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Along Railroads, Barren waste areas, Hill prairies, Mined land, Pastures, Roadsides, Rocky glades, Sandy areas, Upland, Upland clay prairies, Upland sand prairies, Upland sandy savannas, Upland savannas, Upland soils
Coastal Regions, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-89-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9 - 1
12-9
Sunset Zone
-
H2, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Cushion/Mound-forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
60.96 cm90.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.48 cm60.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
-
White
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
-
Light Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Orange, Tan, Brown
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Tan, Sandy Brown
Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Grass like
Elliptic and Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Slow
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Fall, Fall
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Pollution, Drought
Shade areas
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Divison, Root Division, Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Planting, Vegetative Reproduction
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Medium
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water, Requires regular watering, Water daily during growing season, Water when top layer of soil becomes dry
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune to control growth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
fertilize in growing season, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Insects, Red blotch, Scale, Spider mites, Thripes, Whiteflies
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Shade areas
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Fine
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies
Birds
Allergy
Pollen
Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Beautification, Bonsai, Cottage Garden, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for birds, Wildlife
Air purification, Food for insects, Prevent Soil Erosion
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Back pain, Diarrhea, Frostbite, Itching, Piles, Sore Eyes, Sore throat
-
Part of Plant Used
Root, Seeds, Stem
Flowers, Fruits
Other Uses
Cattle Fodder, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Dried Flower/Everlasting, Wildflower
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Edible, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier, Tropical
Botanical Name
ANDROPOGON virginicus
CARISSA macrocarpa
Common Name
Broomsedge, Broomsedge Bluestem
Carissia
In Hindi
Broomsedge grass
Carissa
In German
broomsedge Gras
carissa
In French
broomsedge herbe
carissa
In Spanish
hierba Broomsedge
carissa
In Greek
Broomsedge γρασίδι
carissa
In Portuguese
Broomsedge grama
carissa
In Polish
Broomsedge trawy
carissa
In Latin
Broomsedge herba
carissa
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Cyperales
Gentianales
Family
Poaceae
Apocynaceae
Genus
Andropogon
Carissa
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Andropogoneae
Carisseae
Subfamily
Panicoideae
Rauvolfioideae
Number of Species
1100
1
27800
👆🏻