California Invasive Plant Council

Ammophila arenaria

Synonyms: Arundo arenaria

Common names: European beachgrass

Ammophila arenaria (European beachgrass) is a clumping perennial grass (family Poaceae) found in coastal dune systems from Santa Barbara County north. European beachgrass grows more densely than native American dunegrass (Leymus mollis), trapping passing sand and creating steep dunes that run parallel to the shoreline. This prevents new sand from reaching interior dunes, resulting in changes to the structure and ecology of dune ecosystems. Native plants often cannot compete with dense stands of European beachgrass. It is native to the coastlines of Europe and North Africa.

Cal-IPC Rating: High?

Explanation of Cal-IPC ratings

• High – These species have severe ecological impacts on physical processes, plant and animal communities, and vegetation structure. Their reproductive biology and other attributes are conducive to moderate to high rates of dispersal and establishment. Most are widely distributed ecologically.
• Moderate – These species have substantial and apparent-but generally not severe-ecological impacts on physical processes, plant and animal communities, and vegetation structure. Their reproductive biology and other attributes are conducive to moderate to high rates of dispersal, though establishment is generally dependent upon ecological disturbance. Ecological amplitude and distribution may range from limited to widespread.
• Limited – These species are invasive but their ecological impacts are minor on a statewide level or there was not enough information to justify a higher score. Their reproductive biology and other attributes result in low to moderate rates of invasiveness. Ecological amplitude and distribution are generally limited, but these species may be locally persistent and problematic.
• Alert – An Alert is listed on species with High or Moderate impacts that have limited distribution in California, but may have the potential to spread much further.
• Watch – These species have been assessed as posing a high risk of becoming invasive in the future in California.

CDFA Rating: None?

Explanation of CDFA ratings

• A – A pest of known economic or environmental detriment and is either not known to be established in California or it is present in a limited distribution that allows for the possibility of eradication or successful containment.
• B – A pest of known economic or environmental detriment and, if present in California, it is of limited distribution.
• C – A pest of known economic or environmental detriment and, if present in California, it is usually widespread.
• D – An organism known to be of little or no economic or environmental detriment, to have an extremely low likelihood of weediness, or is known to be a parasite or predator.
• Q – An organism or disorder suspected to be of economic or environmental detriment, but whose status is uncertain because of incomplete identification or inadequate information.
• * – An asterisk next to the rating indicates that a plant is included in the CCR Section 4500 list of California State Noxious Weeds.
• -* – This plant is included in the CCR Section 4500 list of California State Noxious Weeds, but is otherwise not rated.

More details

Assessment(s)

Ammophila arenaria Plant Assessment Form - Information gathered by Cal-IPC on the impacts, rate of spread, and distribution of invasive plants in California. Does not include management information.

Weed Management Notes

• Management Notes - Information on management techniques and effectiveness from the University of California Cooperative Extension’s Weed Research & Information Center.

Cal-IPC Newsletter Articles

• Removing European beachgrass at Point Reyes. Parsons, Lorraine. Vol 23, Issue 1
• Teaching weeds: California university invasive plant programs. Cole, Kristie; Molinari, Nicole. Vol 12, Issue 2
• Hard work, low pay, miserable conditions: The California Conservation Corps pulls weeds. Cal-IPC. Vol 12, Issue 1
• CalEPPC Symposium ’97. Warner, Peter. Vol 06, Issue 1
• Exotic pest plants of greatest ecological concern in California September 1994. Cal-IPC. Vol 02, Issue 4
• California Exotic Pest Plant Council draft list exotic plants of greatest concern October 1993. CalEPPC. Vol 01, Issue 4

Cal-IPC Symposium Presentations

Presentations are linked where available. Where a presentation is not available, find more information by reading the abstract in the Cal-IPC Symposia Archive.

• Restoration of coastal dunes and salt marsh at the Ocean Ranch Unit of the Eel River Wildlife Area, Humboldt County. McDonald, Kelsey (2024)
• Effects of manual and mechanical removal of Ammophila arenaria on coastal plant communities and dune morphology. Silva-Crossman, Monique (2018)
• Effects of manual and mechanical Ammophila arenaria removal techniques on coastal dune plant communities and dune morphology. SilvaCrossman, Monique; O'Dowd, Alison (2017)
• European dune grass control: 15 years of adaptive management. Hyland, Tim (2012)
• Invasive plant management in California State Parks. Robison, Ramona (2011)
• Controlling European beachgrass (Ammophila arenaria) using prescribed burns and herbicide. Hyland, Tim; Holloran, Pete (2005)
• Invasive annual grasses in a coastal dune ecosystem. Clifford, Patti; Pickart, Andrea J.; Tatum, Ellen; Wear, Kyle (2005)
• The use of heavy machinery (excavators) to remove Ammophila arenaria (European beachgrass) from native sand dunes at Point Reyes National Seashore. Peterson, Ben (2004)
• A decade of dune restoration at the Lanphere Dunes. Pickart, Andrea (2003)
• Control of European beachgrass (Ammophila arenaria) on the west coast of the United States. Pickart, Andres J. (1997)

Other Ammophila arenaria Information

• Bugwood - National database from the Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health at the University of Georgia.
• CalPhotos - Images of plants taken mostly in California.
• Calflora - Distribution map and records of this species in California.
• CalWeedMapper - Distribution map of this species in California with ability to determine regional priorities.
• EDDMapS - Distribution of this species in North America.
• Jepson Interchange - Information on this plant's taxonomy, biology, and distribution from UC Berkeley's Jepson Herbarium.
• USDA PLANTS Database - Information on identification and distribution, with links to websites in individual states.

Additional photos