Prairie Dropseed
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Sporobolus heterolepis
Sporobolus heterolepis, commonly known as prairie dropseed, is a warm-season grass that grows in clumps. This prairie grass is native to regions from Quebec to Saskatchewan, extending southward to Colorado, Texas, and Connecticut. The medium-green leaves of this grass are fine-textured and hair-like. They typically form a foliage mound that is 15 inches tall and 18 inches wide, with arching growth. The foliage turns golden with orange hues in the fall and fades to light bronze in the winter. In late summer, branching flower panicles with pink and brown tints appear on slender stems that rise to 30-36 inches above the foliage clump. These flowers are particularly notable for their unique fragrance, with hints of coriander. The mature seeds are tiny and rounded and drop to the ground from their hulls in autumn, giving rise to the descriptive common name.
Prairie dropseed is easy to grow in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun. It can tolerate many soils, including heavy clays, but prefers dry, rocky soils. It has good drought tolerance but is slow-growing and slow to establish. Although it may be grown from seed, it does not freely self-seed in the garden.
BONAP MAP
Height: 2’-3’
Spread: 2’-3’
Bloom: August-October
Light: Full sun
Water: Low, Medium
Zone: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Origin: North America
Winter Shipping: We will continue to ship throughout winter. If you prefer, we are happy to hold your order until spring; please include that request in your shipping notes.
When you order plants from our nursery, you can expect them to arrive in the best possible condition. Our team carefully packs each order using sturdy, biodegradable packaging materials.
Your plants' appearance may vary depending on the season and their current growth stage. We may cut back the leafy growth of some plants to prepare them for shipment and transplanting.
5 Gallon and Up: Any plant purchased to ship over 5 Gallons will be shipped bare root. This means we will remove the plant from its original pot, remove the soil surrounding the roots, and wrap the roots with a biodegradable plastic bag. This reduces weight and the likelihood of damage during shipping.
Once your plants arrive, it is essential to plant them as soon as possible. This will help them rebound and thrive. If you cannot plant immediately, water regularly and keep the roots off heat-conducting surfaces.
Newly transplanted plants often require more water until their roots are well established. Plan to water them 1-3 times weekly for the first few months.
