Species Name:  Sporobolus heterolepis

Common Name: Prairie Dropseed

Zone: 3 to 8

Light: Full Sun

Soil Moisture: Dry to Medium

Soil Types: Well Drained, Sand, Loam

Fertility: Poor to Average to Rich

pH: 5 to 6.8

Bloom Time: August, September

Habit: Sporobolus heterolepis is a petite warm season perennial grass.  Plants form attractive tufted mounds 1 to 2ft tall of slender deep green arching leaves. Seed heads mature in August and September providing food for foraging birds. Fall color usually develops golden-orange fall highlights.  Plants hold soil with their vigorous fibrous roots and expand slowly from short underground rhizomes. This tough grass can survive in harsh dry prairies or can prosper in sunny gardens with dry to average soils.

A useful landscape plant because of its short compact stature, graceful texture, lasting winter interest and extreme heat and drought tolerance.

 

 

 

A Mass Planting of Prairie Dropseed

 

  Prairie Dropseed Seed Heads