Prairie Dropseed — Sporobolus heterolepis

Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) is one of the most graceful and ecologically valuable native ornamental grasses for the American landscape — a clump-forming native grass with extraordinarily fine, hair-like arching medium green foliage that creates an elegant, almost cloud-like textural effect through the growing season, producing delicate, open branching panicles of fragrant pink and brown flowers that rise above the foliage in summer and ripen into seed that drops in fall (giving the plant its evocative common name), while the foliage transforms through brilliant shades of bronze and orange before fading to a warm light bronze for winter interest. The fragrance of Prairie Dropseed's flowers is noted as one of the most pleasant and distinctive of any native grass — a sweet, popcorn-like scent that is a delight near a path or seating area. Native to the Midwest and northeastern North America, Prairie Dropseed is remarkably adaptable once established, thriving in dry to medium well-drained soils in full sun with strong drought tolerance. Hardy to Zone 3.

MAINTENANCE NEEDS: Low Maintenance. Cut back hard in late winter before new growth emerges. Drought-tolerant once established.
LANDSCAPE USES: Accents or Group Plantings, Borders, Naturalized Areas, Prairie and Meadow Gardens, Rain Gardens, and Containers.

COMPANION PLANTS: Black-Eyed Susan, Little Bluestem, Coneflower

*As plants have ranges in appearance they may not appear as the images shown.