Text version - Avoid Japanese stiltgrass
Don't spread Japanese stiltgrass
- Brush off your clothes, shoes, other belongings and pets before leaving your local park
- Ensure your outdoor equipment and tools are free of soil and plant parts before moving from one area to another
- Stay on designated pathways and trails
- Contact the Canadian Food Inspection Agency if you detect Japanese stiltgrass outside of known infested areas
Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) is a federally regulated invasive plant that has been found and is under treatment in various locations in Ontario. It spreads primarily by seeds. Japanese stiltgrass disrupts eco-systems by out-competing native plants, obstructing forest regeneration, changing soil chemistry, and impacting habitats for birds and other wildlife.
What it looks like
Stems are branched and can grow up to 1 metre tall. Leaf blades are pale green, canoe-shaped, and have a light-coloured, shiny stripe down the centre. In late summer, slender flower spikes are found at the end of the stems. Plants develop a slightly purplish colour in autumn.