Sorghastrum nutans

?One of the most beautiful and characteristic grasses of the once vast N. American tall grass prairie? (R. Darke), this native sends its showy flower plumes up on 4-6' stalks from a 2-3' clump of narrow foliage. S/M

The silky soft, golden seedheads of Indiangrass impart a special beauty and drama to the prairie in autumn. Plant with Little Bluestem for a fabulous fall combination. A clumping grass, it makes a great companion for a wide range of prairie flowers. Grows on any well-drained soil, from dry sand to heavy clay. Hardy to Zones 3 - 9. Great as an accent and an excellent choice instead of ornamental grasses such as Miscanthus, fountaingrass or pampas grass. It is widely used in large scale roadside plantings and revegetation, prairie restoration, rangeland improvment, and erosion control projects since it grows well on undisturbed sites and produces abundant seeds. Indiangrass is a wonderful drought resistant meadow grass that is a legitimate and desirable native component in most eastern North American grasslands. It may be grown intermixed with native cool season grasses as well as with comparably assertive wildflowers and warm season grasses. Indiangrass attracts wildlife too. Bees come to the blossoms, songbirds and small mammals eat the seeds, deer browse the foliage.

Why isn't this stunning grass more popular? Indian Grass is extremely hardy, drought resistant, has showy inflorescense in late summer and is attractive to wildlife. It has upright foliage forming clumps 2-3' tall, with stiff stalks bearing silky seed heads to 5'.