Upright clumps, 36-72″ tall, of slender, blue-green leaves turn golden yellow in fall. Stiff, vertical flowering stems, topped with 12″ long, narrow, light brown flower panicles with yellow stamens, rise well above the foliage in late summer.
Native Plant Database
Header Photo: Mervin Wallace
Indian Grass
Sorghastrum nutans
Plant Type: Grasses / Sedges / Rushes
Native Environment: Prairie
Season of Interest: Winter (Nov - Mar)
Main Color: Blue, Green
Fall Color: Gold
Hardy From Zone: 1
Hardy To Zone: 1
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Hardiness Zones
as defined by the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map; (hardiness zones are not recorded for all Grow Native! plants)
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Soil
Moisture
Dry, Moderate
Nature Attracting
Wildlife Benefit
Cover
Animal
Resistance
Size
Height:
36 to
72
inches
Spread:
24 to
30
inches
Size
Height: 36 to
72
inches
Spread: 24 to
30
inches
Size
Height: 36 to
72
inches
Spread: 24 to
30
inches
Typical Landscape Use
Mass or blend into prairies, meadows, wild or naturalized areas. Vertical accent for borders. Also effective on slopes for erosion control. Numerous songbirds and small mammals eat the seeds and plants provide excellent nesting and security cover.
Establishment and Care Instructions
Easily grown in average, dry to medium wet, well-drained soil in full sun. Tolerates a wide range of soils including heavy clay. Tends to open up and flop in moist, rich soils. May naturalize by self-seeding.
Special Features
Special Usage
Dried Flower, Fresh Cut Flower
Basic Description
Where Should I Start?
Check out the Grow Native! Committee’s Top Ten picks of native plants for a particular purpose.
What’s the Next Step?
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Where Can I Find This Plant in Nature?
Learn about the Native Environment(s) inhabited by the plants in this database.