What is it?

Japanese stilt grass (Microstegium vimineum), also known as Nepalese browntop or by its genus name of Microstegium, is a sprawling annual grass that is common to disturbed sites throughout Kentucky. It is native to Japan, Korea, China, Malaysia, and India. It was first reported in the United States in the early 1900s initially in Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1919, and in the 1930s in Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania. The most probable means of introduction was from its use as a packing material for china and other fragile products from Asia. This species is now a common invasive exotic throughout the eastern United States and the South.

The species spreads by seed. It flowers in late summer, and the small, abundant seeds can float and readily move with wildlife. It normally establishes on disturbed areas, both natural and manmade, and can tolerate a range of soil conditions.

How do I control it?
For more control methods, click the Kentucky Woodlands Magazine article link to the right.