Japanese Stiltgrass

Scientific Name

Microstegium vimineum (Trin.) Camus (ITIS)

Common Name

Japanese stiltgrass, Nepalese browntop, Chinese packing grass, Asian stilt grass, annual jewgrass, bamboograss, Nepal microstegium, eulalia, Mary's grass

Synonym

Andropogon vimineus Trin., Eulalia viminea (Trin.) Kuntze (ITIS)

Native To

Asia (Fryer 2011)

Date of U.S. Introduction

First discovered in 1919 (Morrison et al. 2007)

Means of Introduction

Probably introduced as packing material in shipments from China (Fryer 2011)

Impact

Can grow in a variety of habitats where it forms dense stands and crowds out native species (Fryer 2011)

Japanese stiltgrass, foliage

Credit

Photo by Chuck Bargeron; University of Georgia

Source

Invasive.org.

Find more images

Spotlights

Field Guide To The Identification of Japanese Stiltgrass
- Mar 2019
- Alabama Cooperative Extension System.
- Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum), also called Nepalese browntop, is an aggressive invader of forest lands throughout the eastern United States. Infestations can impact the diversity of native species, reduce wildlife habitat, and disrupt important ecosystem functions. Stiltgrass is considered one of the most damaging invasive plant species in the United States. Infestations spread rapidly and the seed can remain viable in the soil for up to five years. Correct identification is necessary before beginning any management activities. Fortunately, Japanese stiltgrass has a unique combination of characteristics that make field identification possible. This publication gives simple descriptions and clear pictures of these characteristics along with details on how to distinguish several common look-a-like species. Download the full PDF version of Field Guide to The Identification of Japanese Stiltgrass with comparisons to other look-a-like species, ANR – 1457 (PDF | 16.1 MB).

Distribution / Maps / Survey Status

Early Detection & Distribution Mapping System (EDDMapS) - Japanese Stiltgrass
- University of Georgia. Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health.
- Provides state, county, point and GIS data. Maps can be downloaded and shared.

Videos

YouTube - Identification of Stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum)
- Google. YouTube; University of Wisconsin-Madison. Wisconsin First Detector Network.

Selected Resources

The section below contains highly relevant resources for this species, organized by source.

View All Japanese Stiltgrass Resources

Council or Task Force

Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council Invasive Plant Manual - Japanese Grass or Eulalia
- Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council.

Partnership

EPPO Global Database - Microstegium vimineum
- European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization.
Global Invasive Species Database - Microstegium vimineum (grass)
- IUCN. Species Survival Commission. Invasive Species Specialist Group.
Invaders Factsheet: Japanese Stiltgrass
- Ontario's Invading Species Awareness Program (Canada).
Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States - Japanese Stilt Grass
- University of Georgia. Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health.
Invasive Species Compendium - Microstegium vimineum
- CAB International.
New York Invasive Species Information - Japanese Stiltgrass
- New York Invasive Species Clearinghouse.

Federal Government

Fire Effects Information System (FEIS) - Microstegium vimineum
- USDA. FS. Rocky Mountain Research Station. Fire Sciences Laboratory.
National Exotic Marine and Estuarine Species Information System (NEMESIS): Chesapeake Bay Introduced Species Database - Microstegium vimineum
- Smithsonian Institution. Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. Marine Invasions Research Lab.
PLANTS Database - Nepalese Browntop
- USDA. NRCS. National Plant Data Center.
U.S. National Plant Germplasm System - Microstegium vimineum
- USDA. ARS. National Genetic Resources Program. GRIN-Global.

State and Local Government

Fact Sheet: Japanese Stilt-Grass (Microstegium vimineum) [PDF | 283 KB]
- 2014
- New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets, and Food. Division of Plant Industry.
- See also: New Hampshire's Prohibited Invasive Plant Fact Sheets for additional invasive trees, shrubs, vines, and herbaceous plants
Forest Pests: Invasive Plants and Insects of Maryland - Japanese Stiltgrass [PDF | 551 KB]
- Aug 2012
- Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Forest Service.
- See also: Invasive Plants and Insects Fact Sheets for additional species to help control invasive species in Maryland
Invasive Species Leaflet - Microstegium vimineum [PDF | 150 KB]
- Mar 2010
- North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Forest Service.
- See also: Forest Health Publications for more Invasive Species Leaflets
New Jersey Non-Native Plants: Japanese Stiltgrass [PDF | 109 KB]
- Oct 2008
- New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
- See also: Invasive Species Fact Sheets for more species
Field Guide: Invasive - Japanese Stiltgrass
- Missouri Department of Conservation.
- See also: Invasive and Problem Plant Control (scroll to Invasive Plants section) for more information to help you identify and control most common invasive plants in Missouri
Invasive Plants in Pennsylvania: Japanese Stilt Grass [PDF | 236 KB]
- Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
- See also: Invasive Plant Fact Sheets for plant species (trees, shrubs, vines, herbs and aquatic plants) that have impacted the state's natural lands
Japanese Stilt Grass (Microstegium vimineum)
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Academic

Japanese Stiltgrass in Home Landscapes
- Mar 2022
- University of Maryland Extension.
Factsheet: Japanese Stiltgrass [PDF | 586 KB]
- 2018
- Pennsylvania State University. Pennsylvania Sea Grant.
- See also: Aquatic Invasive Species: Resources for additional species information
Japanese Stiltgrass Control in the Home Lawn and Landscape
- Oct 2014
- Rutgers University. New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station.
Controlling Non-Native Invasive Plants in Ohio Forests: Japanese Stiltgrass
- Ohio State University. Extension.
Insects, Pests, and Diseases: Japanese Stiltgrass
- Pennsylvania State University. Cooperative Extension.
Introduced Species Summary Project - Japanese Stilt Grass
- Columbia University. Center for Environmental Research and Conservation.
Maine Invasive Plants Bulletin: Japanese Stilt Grass
- University of Maine Cooperative Extension.
- See also: Natural Resources Publications for entire "Maine Invasive Plants" series

Citations

Fryer, J.L. 2011. Microstegium vimineum. In: Fire Effects Information System. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory.
Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Microstegium vimineum. [Accessed Sep 10, 2014].
Morrison, J.A., Lubchansky, H.A., Mauck, K.E., McCartney, K., and B. Dunn. 2007. Ecological comparison of two co-invasive species in eastern deciduous forests: Alliaria petiolata and Microstegium vimineum. Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society 134(1):1-17.

Find more images

Spotlights

Field Guide To The Identification of Japanese Stiltgrass

Distribution / Maps / Survey Status

Early Detection & Distribution Mapping System (EDDMapS) - Japanese Stiltgrass

Videos

YouTube - Identification of Stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum)

Selected Resources

Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council Invasive Plant Manual - Japanese Grass or Eulalia

EPPO Global Database - Microstegium vimineum

Global Invasive Species Database - Microstegium vimineum (grass)

Invaders Factsheet: Japanese Stiltgrass

Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States - Japanese Stilt Grass

Invasive Species Compendium - Microstegium vimineum

New York Invasive Species Information - Japanese Stiltgrass

Fire Effects Information System (FEIS) - Microstegium vimineum

National Exotic Marine and Estuarine Species Information System (NEMESIS): Chesapeake Bay Introduced Species Database - Microstegium vimineum

PLANTS Database - Nepalese Browntop

U.S. National Plant Germplasm System - Microstegium vimineum

Fact Sheet: Japanese Stilt-Grass (Microstegium vimineum) [PDF | 283 KB]

Forest Pests: Invasive Plants and Insects of Maryland - Japanese Stiltgrass [PDF | 551 KB]

Invasive Species Leaflet - Microstegium vimineum [PDF | 150 KB]

New Jersey Non-Native Plants: Japanese Stiltgrass [PDF | 109 KB]

Field Guide: Invasive - Japanese Stiltgrass

Invasive Plants in Pennsylvania: Japanese Stilt Grass [PDF | 236 KB]

Japanese Stilt Grass (Microstegium vimineum)

Japanese Stiltgrass in Home Landscapes

Factsheet: Japanese Stiltgrass [PDF | 586 KB]

Japanese Stiltgrass Control in the Home Lawn and Landscape

Controlling Non-Native Invasive Plants in Ohio Forests: Japanese Stiltgrass

Insects, Pests, and Diseases: Japanese Stiltgrass

Introduced Species Summary Project - Japanese Stilt Grass

Maine Invasive Plants Bulletin: Japanese Stilt Grass