Species Spotlight: American Beachgrass
American beachgrass, also known as dune grass, is one of the most common plant species found along the Atlantic coast. American beachgrass is well adapted to live above the high tide line. It is tolerant to hot, dry, and salty conditions. It is also capable of withstanding high winds and the constant burial by shifting of sand. Due to its dense root structure and ability to grow through accumulating sand, it helps in the formation on dunes.
American beachgrass is an essential species that aides in the protection from shoreline erosion from strong storms. CCE Marine Program has been and is currently involved in several shoreline restoration projects on both the north and south forks of Suffolk County. Learn more about our Habitat Restoration and Marine Meadow Program and see how you can get involved.
American Beachgrass
Ammophila breviligulata
American beachgrass is well adapted to live above the high tide line.
American beachgrass helps to establish and stabilize dunes.
American beachgrass growing in our coastal plant nursery at our Tiana Bayside Facility in Hampton Bays.
Members of the CCE Marine Habitat Team planting American beachgrass.
American Beachgrass
Scientific Name: Ammophila breviligulata
Identification: American beachgrass is a tall, stiff perennial grass arising from long subsurface rhizomes (underground stem). Its rhizomes help the plant spread horizontally up to 6’-10’ annually. American beachgrass grows up to 2’-3’ tall. The leaves are long and narrow and have deeply furrowed upper surfaces and smooth undersides. Unlike other beach grasses, a leaf cluster surrounds an elongated flowering spike.
Habitat: In the United States, American beachgrass can be found along the beaches of the Great Lakes and the Atlantic coast. It typically grows in drier areas of sandy beaches and unstable or partially stable sand dunes.
Find this Species: On Long Island, you can find American beachgrass growing on dunes by the ocean. You can also find it growing on beaches along bays, harbors, and at the base of bluffs along Long Island Sound.
Interesting Facts: To adapt to wind stress, its leaves can roll or fold, and the rough upper leaf surface, which contains the gas exchange openings, can orient itself away from the wind.
American beachgrass responds to being buried by sand by sending up a new rhizome, and from the new rhizome, a new shoot forms!
As the grass captures sand that the wind blows across it, dunes are built!
The plant does produce seeds, but much of the spreading is through the rhizomes. Seedlings have a tough time getting established in a hot, dry environment.
When the plant starts to die off, the stability of the dune is threatened. Planting American beachgrass can help to restore damaged dune systems!