Sorghastrum nutans
Sorghastrum nutans, commonly called Indian grass, is a warm-season Texas native perennial grass that typically occurs in prairies, glades, and open woods throughout the State. It was one of the dominant grasses of the tallgrass prairie, which once covered large parts of the Midwest. Typically, it grows 3-5' tall and is noted for its upright form and blue-green foliage. It forms upright clumps of slender, blue-green leaves. Foliage turns orange-yellow in fall and usually retains hints of color into the winter. Stiff, vertical flowering stems, topped with narrow, feathery, light brown flower panicles highlighted with yellow stamens, rise well above the foliage clump in late summer to 5-6' tall. Panicles darken to bronze/chestnut brown in fall as they mature, later fading to gray. Panicles continue to provide some interest well into winter, and the seeds are attractive to birds.
Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerant of a wide range of soils including heavy clays. Does well in poor, dry, infertile soils. Tends to open up and/or flop in moist, rich soils, however. May naturalize by self-seeding in optimum growing conditions. Cut back to the ground in late winter to early spring just before the new growth appears.
Height: 3’-5’
Spread: 1’-2’
Bloom: September-February
Light: Full sun
Water: Dry, Medium
Zone: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Origin: Eastern and Central United States
