| Restore a bit of native American habitat in your meadow or naturalized garden with these hardy prairie grasses. Dense clumps of hair-thin leaf blades and showy flowerheads add textural interest. A major component of the pristine United States central plains, Sporobolus heterolepis (Prairie Dropseed) forms delicate tussocks of emerald green. Late-summer flowerheads sweetly scent the air, drooping as their seeds ripen. In fall, the leaves turn to gold and orange, fading to creamy tan in winter. Sporobolus airoides once covered California's central valley. Its fine cloudlike awns make wonderful fillers in fresh or dried arrangements. Seek out locally developed strains for your area. Best in full sun. Sporobolus heterolepis droops in shade. Sow in spring or autumn in a wide range of well-drained soils. Prairie natives thrive in dry rocky soil, but need some water in arid western summers. Slow-growing, so try to purchase 2-year-old plants. Divide clumps in spring or fall. |
This slow-growing non-invasive grass is heat and drought-tolerant. Perfect large-scale, fine-textured ground cover for dry, native gardens. The 2 to 3-foot flowering panicles produce seeds which attract birds.
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Attributes - Sporobolus heterolepsis
Plant Type: Grass
Bloom Season: Late Summer through Early Fall
Flower Color: Yellow
Foliage: Deciduous
Height: 1 ft. 6 in. to 2 ft.
Width: 4 ft.
Sunlight: Full Sun
Climate: Zones 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Notes: Thrives in Dry Climates, Hot Climates. Drought Tolerant, Fragrant, Low Maintenance.
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