Indian Grass, Wood Grass, Sorghastrum avenaceum
A tough plant for prairies and wildlife gardens, Sorghastrum nutans (Indian Grass) is a robust perennial grass forming a spreading clump of slender, arching, rich green to blue-green leaves. Like many prairie natives, Indian Grass is a warm-season grass, blooming in late summer and fall. The showy and feathery flower panicles are copper-colored with conspicuous bright yellow stamens. They rise well above the foliage clump and turn light chestnut brown as they mature. They make excellent cut flowers, fresh or dried, and remain attractive through most of the winter. The foliage turns yellow to bright orange in the fall. Indian Grass is one of the most beautiful grasses of the tall grass prairie that once covered much of North America.
| Hardiness |
4 - 9 |
|---|---|
| Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
| Plant Type | Ornamental Grasses |
| Plant Family | Poaceae |
| Common names | Indian Grass |
| Exposure | Full Sun |
| Season of Interest | Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter |
| Height | 3' - 5' (90cm - 150cm) |
| Spread | 1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm) |
| Spacing | 18" - 24" (50cm - 60cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Low |
| Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Showy |
| Native Plants | United States, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Northeast, Midwest, Southeast, Southwest, Rocky Mountains, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming |
| Tolerance | Drought, Deer, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil |
| Attracts | Birds |
| Garden Uses | Banks And Slopes |
| Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow |
| Hardiness |
4 - 9 |
|---|---|
| Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
| Plant Type | Ornamental Grasses |
| Plant Family | Poaceae |
| Common names | Indian Grass |
| Exposure | Full Sun |
| Season of Interest | Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter |
| Height | 3' - 5' (90cm - 150cm) |
| Spread | 1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm) |
| Spacing | 18" - 24" (50cm - 60cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Low |
| Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Showy |
| Native Plants | United States, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Northeast, Midwest, Southeast, Southwest, Rocky Mountains, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming |
| Tolerance | Drought, Deer, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil |
| Attracts | Birds |
| Garden Uses | Banks And Slopes |
| Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow |
How many Sorghastrum nutans (Indian Grass) do I need for my garden?
| Plant | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|
| Sorghastrum nutans (Indian Grass) | N/A | Buy Plants |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
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