Alabama Department of Agriculture, Cogongrass

It’s a noxious weed, which was introduced in the U.S. in 1911 in the port of Mobile. It had been used as packing material. It has been spreading rapidly across the Southeast, and has hit Alabama hard.

What is cogongrass? What is cogongrass? What is cogongrass? What is cogongrass? What is cogongrass? What is cogongrass?

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

Cogongrass often grows in circular patches in full sunlight to partial shade, with fluffy, white seed heads in the spring. Its leaves:

  • Measure .5 to 1 inch wide, and 12 to 30 inches long.
  • Are yellowish green and typically turn reddish-tan after frost
  • Have a whitish midrib that may be off-center
  • Are edged with tiny, saw-like serrations
  • Grow out of networks of sharp rhizomes

See cogongrass field guide

Where is Cogongrass in Alabama?

Number of Reported Instances of Cogongrass Infestation by County (Source: EDDMapS)