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Sorghastrum nutans

Yellow prairie grass

 

"A North American prairie grass found in the central and eastern United States and Canada, especially in the Great Plains and tallgrass prairies. A warm-season perennial bunchgrass. It is intolerant to shade. It grows 3 to 7 feet tall, and is distinguished by a "rifle-sight" ligule where the leaf blade attaches to the leaf sheath. The leaf is about 3 feet long.

It blooms from late summer to early fall, producing branched clusters (panicles) of spikelets. The spikelets are golden-brown during the blooming period, and each contain one perfect floret that has three large, showy yellow stamens and two feather-like stigmas.

Sorghastrum nutans is prominent in the tallgrass prairie ecosystem and the northern, central, and Flint Hills tall grassland ecoregions, along with big bluestem (Andropogon gerardi), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). It is also common in areas of longleaf pine.

It regrows with renewed vitality after fires, so controlled burns are used, replacing extirpated large herbivores (i.e. bison), for habitat renewal.

It is a larval host to the pepper-and-salt skipper."

 

Plants can be purchased in-person or online (with in-person pick-up).

All online orders will be ready for pick-up 24-72 hours after purchase. You will receive an email to let you know when your order is ready. We kindly ask that you pick-up any orders within one week of purchase. 

 

Info from wikipedia.

Sorghastrum nutans (yellow prairie grass)

$10.50Price
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  • type: grass
    sun needs: full sun
    water needs:

    Average to dry

    height: 5-7'
    plant spacing: 1 per square foot
    bloom time:

    August, September

  • Salt tolerant. Some salt exposure should not be fatal to the plant but some leaf burning may still occur.
    Deer resistant (please note that does not mean deer proof).
    Can be aggressive.

    Can handle roadside conditions.

    Suppports at-risk insects:

    Host plant for the pepper and salt skipper

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