Bitter panicgrass (Panicum amarum) is a native warm season grass that occurs on coastal dunes from Massachusetts to east Texas. It is common on Pea Island and Currituck National Wildlife Refuges. Bitter panicgrass spreads rapidly on the dry, infertile dunes by stolons (runners) which form colonies of plants that slow wind erosion. In the mid-Atlantic region, for restoration purposes, it is usually planted with American beachgrass and sea oats to imitate the plant community that exists on dunes in the area.