Sporobolus heterolepis (Prairie Dropseed) - Quart Super Plugs

With its fountain-like appearance and long, airy seed heads, Prairie Dropseed is often regarded as the best-looking native grass.  Not surprisingly, because of this, it is also one of the most often planted native grasses.  Growing in medium moist to dry, gravelly soils, Prairie Dropseed ranges throughout the tallgrass prairie region.  

Prairie dropseed is fairly short for a prairie grass, growing 2-3 feet tall and about as wide.   Prairie dropseed is a warm season grass, growing quickly in May and June once the soils have warmed and blooming in mid to late summer.  The fall color is an attractive light tan, emerging once the days become cooler in late September and the frosts begin to hit again.

NOW AVAILABLE! Sporobolus heterolepis 'tara'

Uses

Prairie dropseed is both useful and ornamental - The thick tufts make excellent cover for birds and small animals, while the grain-like seeds (These were actually made into a nutrient-rich flour by the American Indians) provide food through the fall and winter.  Larger animals browse the plants, and it makes a decent hay on dry, infertile soils.  

Prairie dropseed is an excellent garden plant, too, as mentioned above - It can be planted as individual clumps or as large, sweeping drifts.  A pure stand of prairie dropseed on a hillside is an exceptionally beautiful sight!

How to Grow Prairie Dropseed

Very hardy and adaptable, prairie dropseed is one of the few plants that actually prefer dry, gravelly soils!  It does reasonably well in average garden soils, too, and can even tolerate heavy clay.

The main need is for full to partial sun - Make sure that the plants receive sun for at least 6 hours per day.  Prairie dropseed can be used at woodland edges, where the forest transitions to sunnier open areas.

Plant prairie dropseed with about 3 feet of room for individual clumps, or space plugs 1-1/2 to 2 feet apart for a thick drift.

Our Quart SuperPlugs offer dense, well-developed root systems for quick establishment.  Simply water in well after planting, and they should establish well.  Some additional watering once per week in the first growing season may be needed if the weather turns excessively dry.

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