Sorghastrum nutans

Sorghastrum nutans, commonly known as Indian grass, is a warm-season perennial grass native to Texas. It is typically found in prairies, glades, and open woods throughout the state and was once a dominant grass in the tallgrass prairie that covered large parts of the Midwest. Indian grass usually grows to a height of 3-5 feet and is known for its upright form and blue-green foliage, which turns orange-yellow in the fall and retains some color into the winter.

In late summer, stiff, vertical flowering stems emerge, reaching 5-6 feet tall and topped with narrow, feathery, light brown flower panicles highlighted with yellow stamens. The panicles darken to bronze/chestnut brown in the fall and later fade to gray, providing interest well into winter. The seeds of Indian grass are attractive to birds.

Indian grass is suitable for average, dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun and can tolerate a wide range of soil types, including heavy clays. It can thrive in poor, dry, infertile soils but may become more open or floppy in moist, rich soils. Under optimum growing conditions, it may naturalize by self-seeding. It should be 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