General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Grass/Grass-like
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Dry Mesic
Dry
Soil pH Preferences: Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5)
Neutral (6.6 – 7.3)
Slightly alkaline (7.4 – 7.8)
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 3 -40 °C (-40 °F) to -37.2 °C (-35)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 9b
Plant Height: 3-7 feet
Fruit: Showy
Edible to birds
Fruiting Time: Fall
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Brown
Other: Golden brown
Bloom Size: Under 1"
Flower Time: Late summer or early fall
Underground structures: Rhizome
Suitable Locations: Xeriscapic
Uses: Provides winter interest
Erosion control
Dried Flower
Wildlife Attractant: Birds
Resistances: Drought tolerant
Propagation: Seeds: Sow in situ
Can handle transplanting
Other info: No stratification needed.
Propagation: Other methods: Division
Pollinators: Wind
Miscellaneous: Tolerates poor soil

Image
Common names
  • Indian Grass
  • Yellow Indiangrass
  • Indiangrass
Botanical names
  • Accepted: Sorghastrum nutans
  • Synonym: Sorghastrum avenaceum

Photo Gallery
Location: Local pasture
Date: 2016-10-01
Location: Local pasture
Date: 2016-10-01
Location: Zilker Nature Preserve, Austin, Texas
Date: 2022-04-05
Location: Romeoville, Illinois
Date: 2017-09-04
planted clump
Location: Ft Worth Botanic, Tx
Date: 2017-11-18
Location: Romeoville, Illinois
Date: 2015-08-15
single flower-seedhead
Location: My yard in SE Nebraska
Date: 2011-09-25
Location: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Date: 2017-10-10

Photo Courtesy of Prairie Nursery. Used with Permission
  • Uploaded by Joy

Photo Courtesy of Prairie Nursery. Used with Permission
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: Romeoville, Illinois
Date: 2015-08-15
grass in meadow
Location: near Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
Date: 2016-09-14
single clump

Photo courtesy of Sunlight Gardens
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2011-09-20
Location: central Illinois
Date: 9-20-11
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2011-09-11
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2013-08-30

Date: June

Date: 2015-02-09
Photo courtesy of: Tom Potterfield

Photo courtesy of: Tom Potterfield

Photo courtesy of: Tom Potterfield

Photo courtesy of: Tom Potterfield

Photo courtesy of: Tom Potterfield
Location: IL
Date: 2015-08-27

EPA photograph

Photo Courtesy of Prairie Nursery. Used with Permission
  • Uploaded by Joy
Comments:
  • Posted by ILPARW (southeast Pennsylvania - Zone 6b) on Feb 10, 2018 2:32 PM concerning plant:
    Indian Grass is a native grass species in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and South of the US and goes farther west. It was/is co-dominant with Big Bluestem as a major grass of meadows and prairies. It has bluish-green foliage and bears golden-tan, large clusters of seedheads in late summer and fall. It grows in any well-drained soil from sandy to heavy clay. It is mostly used in native meadow and prairie restorations by conservation organizations. It is sold by seed or by potted plants by most any native plant nursery so that it can be a garden or landscape plant. It is a warm season plant so it does not really sprout up until May. It stays as a big clump with a fibrous root system. It is good to leave up all winter as are many ornamental grasses for winter interest. It likes an early spring burn in natural meadows or prairie. In gardens one can just burn the cut down crown of a few inches high to give it a nice, safe burn, with a hose nearby. There are several cultivars out there somewhere that some native plant nurseries might sell. A few large, diverse nurseries might sell the cultivars.
  • Posted by robertduval14 (Milford, New Hampshire - Zone 5b) on Apr 19, 2013 10:07 PM concerning plant:
    State grass of both Oklahoma and South Carolina.

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