Ammophila breviligulata (Marram Grass, American Beach Grass)

What plant is the best to stabilize coastal sandy beaches and shorelines?  Likely Ammophila breviligulata is the best plant to stabilize eroding beaches, at least when in its native range and habitat as it grows where no other plant can.  American Beach Grass is the dominant native grass along the sandy beaches and dunes of Lake Michigan and the Atlantic Ocean coast. Its long, narrow inflorescences are iconic along the beaches and dunes where it grows.  Marram Grass (its other common name) requires very unique conditions to thrive, very sandy unstable soils, typically full sun, and normal to dry soil conditions. It is also critical for threatened coastal habitats, some bird species use it for nesting and cover along the shoreline.  Ammophila breviligulata is the key species for dune and beach stabilization. Ammophila breviligulata pioneers unstable and partially stable foredunes, allowing additional plant species to colonize, further stabilizing the site. American Beach Grass does this