Prairie Dropseed is a very ornamental prairie bunchgrass native to the US & Canada. It grows in clumps or mounds of arching foliage with long narrow grass-like leaves. It is a good ground cover for naturalizing or prairie settings, being long-lived & deer resistant. Dropseed is also great for rock gardens, containers, or borders.
This grass is tolerant of many soils including rocky & clay as well as adverse conditions. It can tolerate moist areas but also tolerates drought & dryness so well that it's used as a "green rooftop" plant. The fragrant nodding fall seed heads attract songbirds.
Name: prairie dropseed Scientific name: sporobolus heterolepis Color: rusty pink flowers / bright green summer foliage that turns golden in fall - stands up to the fall for year-round interest Plant seeds: in warm soil Bloom time: late summer - fall Hardiness zone: 3 - 9 Plant height: 24 - 36" Plant spacing: 24 - 36" Light requirements: sun - part shade Soil and water preferences: average - dry