An official website of the United States government.

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites always use a .gov or .mil domain. Before sharing sensitive information online, make sure you’re on a .gov or .mil site by inspecting your browser’s address (or “location”) bar.

This site is also protected by an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate that’s been signed by the U.S. government. The https:// means all transmitted data is encrypted — in other words, any information or browsing history that you provide is transmitted securely.

National Invasive Species Information Center
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Home / Terrestrial Invasives / Terrestrial Plants / Japanese Stiltgrass

Japanese Stiltgrass

View all resources
Air potato - Invasive.org
Japanese stiltgrass, foliage - Photo by Chuck Bargeron; University of Georgia
Scientific Name: 
Microstegium vimineum (Trin.) Camus (ITIS)
Synonym: 
Andropogon vimineus Trin., Eulalia viminea (Trin.) Kuntze (ITIS)
Common Name: 
Japanese stiltgrass, Nepalese browntop, Chinese packing grass, Asian stilt grass, annual jewgrass, bamboograss, Nepal microstegium, eulalia, Mary's grass
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)

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.

Images

Google Images - Japanese Stiltgrass
Google.
Invasive.org - Japanese Stiltgrass
University of Georgia. Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health.

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. Or, to display all related content view all resources for Japanese Stiltgrass.

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) (2014) (PDF | 283 KB)
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 (Aug 2012) (PDF | 551 KB)

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 (Mar 2010) (PDF | 150 KB)
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 (Oct 2008) (PDF | 109 KB)

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
Factsheet: Japanese Stiltgrass (2018) (PDF | 586 KB)

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: Maine Invasive Plants & Entire Series for entire series of 22 fact sheets and invasive plants brochure (available in HTML/PDF or for purchase)

Citations