Marram grass is by far the most characteristic plant in the Dutch dunes. It is an important dune builder and coastguard. This tall, strong gray-green grass grows in tussocks along the entire Dutch dune coast. It makes long vertical root stocks which push deep down into the ground. The vertical root stocks also multiple horizontally, forming sturdy clumps underground and tussocks above ground. Marram grass has been planted on a large-scale specifically for building and stabilizing the dunes.