Pollination is required for apomictic seed development. Flower heads typically remain intact during this period. Most seeds germinate late spring through early summer. Reproduces vegetatively by creeping rhizomes and stolons and to a lesser extent, by seed. Rhizome and stolon fragments and seeds disperse with landscape maintenance and agricultural machinery, hand tools, soil movement, water, and other human activities.
Seed producing types reproduce normally.
Seeds may be long-lived under field conditions and can survive ingestion by sheep. Spikelets with bristles disperse in late spring with wind, water, human activities, and by clinging to animals. Reproduces by seed and vegetatively by rhizomes . Seed dispersal is similar to that of crimson fountaingrass . In Australia, seedlings establish slowly and mortality is high.