Sporobolus heterolepis

A favorite of garden designers, native Prairie Dropseed is equally valuable massed or as an accent plant thanks to its tidy mounds of 15" blades. This Ornamental Grass reaches its full height of 2-3' in autumn when crowned with rust-colored airy plumes against burnished gold foliage. An interesting perk is its coriander scent.

Of the roughly 160 annual and perennial Sporobolus species found growing worldwide, more than 25 are native to North America. The commonly grown Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) is a fine-textured, upright, mounding Grass that begins growing in June and is at its best during the dog days of summer. It produces delicate panicles of flowers that, in late summer, ripen to tiny seeds which help sustain a variety of overwintering songbirds and other wildlife. Sporobolus is adaptable to a range of environmental conditions, though it particularly thrives in full sun and well-drained soils and is drought-tolerant and deer-resistant. In gardens and designed landscapes, whether naturalistic or formal, Prairie Dropseed brings movement and textural contrast. In a mass planting, the sheer beauty of its undulating mounded forms, airy flowers, and dancing seed panicles are breathtakingly beautiful. Sporobolus is not considered invasive, making it a responsible choice for naturalistic designs and restoration projects. For gardeners, the ecological value, ease of care, and aesthetic qualities make it highly desirable.

For more information on Sporobolus, click Growing Guide.