Sorghastrum nutans
Yellow Prairie Grass
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Yellow Prairie Grass is one of the major tall grasses of the North American Prairie. It is considered one of the most beautiful, especially when six-foot stalks emerge in late summer. These stiff stalks are topped with beautiful, feathery plumes, which when examined, reveal intricate, dazzling flower structures. Foliage grows in a mounding, two-foot arching shape. Sorghastrum nutans attracts songbirds (they eat the seeds) and provides shelter for gamefowl. It is a wonderful, drought-tolerant grass for prairie meadows or backgrounds.
Zone
4-9
Growth Cycle
Warm
Features
- Native to North America
- Our Favorites
- Notable Fall Color
- Drought Tolerant
- Bioretention/Rain Gardens
- Bioswales/Vegetated swales
- Erosion control
- Meadow/Prairie Plantings
GROWER INFO & TIPS
- Growth rate: medium-fast (faster than Sorghastrum nutans ‘Sioux Blue’
- Grow in 1, 2 or 3 gallon containers
- Grow in well-drained soil
- Water needs: keep evenly moist, but on the drier side
- Fertilizing: use a slow release, medium-rate fertilizer
- Possible pests: aphids, leaf spot, spidermites, spittlebugs
- Overwintering: cold frame with clear poly, keep dry
- Avoid over watering and over fertilizing. Both can lead to weak and floppy plants. Can be cut back; readily grows back.
*Note: please adapt these suggestions as needed to accommodate your local conditions.
LANDSCAPING INFO
- Adaptable to a wide range of soil and moisture conditions
- Produces delicate, colorful seed heads in late summer which persist into fall and lend interest to the winter landscape
- A natural for meadow or prairie gardens and also fits into formal mixed borders and perennial combinations
- A highly ornamental choice for soil stabilization
