Whether you are interested in a small border of ornamental grasses or a huge, multi-acre restoration project, native prairie grasses are a beautiful, low maintenence addition to any garden.
Contents at a Glance
Big Bluestem
Andropogon gerardii
Also known as Turkeyfoot due to its three branched seedhead, Big Bluestem was the primary grass of the tallgrass prairie. It grows 4-9 feet tall and is a sod-forming bunch grass. Blueish-green in the spring and summer, it turns an attractive reddish-tan in the fall and winter. Popular forage for cattle and deer, although it should not be overgrazed. Likes some moisture, but too much causes it to become top-heavy and fall over. Should be mowed or burned in the spring.
Big Bluestem Pictures
Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum
A highly ornamental grass that is a staple of the tallgrass ecosystem. Fairly aggressive, it forms clumps and grows about 3-6 feet tall. It produces a lovely, lacy seedhead and turns an attractive gold color in the winter. Good accent grass if given enough competition but also excellent for land reclamation and erosion control. Tolerates flooding and poor drainage. Popular nesting and forage grass with wildlife. Should be mowed or burned in the spring.
Indiangrass
Sorghastrum nutans
The third and least common of the great triumverate of tallgrass species, Indiangrass grows about 3-8 feet tall and produces handsome golden plume-like seedheads. The foliage is an attractive blueish-green in summer and turns red-gold in the fall and winter. A handsome accent grass that needs tall companions to remain upright. The seeds are extremely interesting. As they dry off during spring snow melt or after rain, they actually dig themselves into the ground.
Canada Wild Rye
Elymus canadensis
A medium grass, growing 2-4 feet tall, with attractive oat-like seedheads. Establishes readily and is useful as initial cover. Tallgrass Sights and Sounds
Experience the sights and sounds of a tallgrass prairie in Indiana in late summer.
curated content from YouTube
Using Prairie Grasses as Ornamentals
Coming soon.
Learn More About Ornamental Grasses
Sideoats Grama
Bouteloua curtipendula
One of my personal favorites, a 2-3 foot grass that forms clumpy sod. Purplish oat-like seeds line one side of the stem. (I highly recommend viewing these under the microscope for their lovely colors.) The foliage turns an attractive purplish-red in fall and winter. Popular with birds and butterflies, it makes an attractive accent grass. It is drought tolerant, but does not compete well with the taller grasses.
Little Bluestem
Andropogon scoparium
A highly ornamental bunch grass, Little Bluestem grows 2-3 feet in height. Blueish-green in the spring and summer, it turns a lovely shade of red in the fall and winter, with handsome white seed tufts accenting the red color. Looks wonderful planted en masse and is popular with wildlife, but needs competition in a small garden and requires well-drained soil.
Prairie Dropseed
Sporobolus heterolepis
Widely considered to be the most attractive prairie grass, prairie dropseed forms handsome, airy clumps with delicate seedheads and turns bronze in the winter. It grows about 2 feet high. Birds like the seeds.
Blue Grama
Bouteloua gracilis
A short (12-18 inches) ornamental grass with interesting, brush-shaped seedheads that are suspended horizontally from the stem. An important forage grass, it is also sometimes planted with buffalo grass in native lawns. Non-agressive and highly drought tolerant.
Plant Guides
Native Lawns
Coming soon.
Learn More About Native Lawns
Buffalo Grass
Buchloe dactyloides
One of the primary species of the shortgrass ecosystem, the sod forming buffalo grass is widely used for native lawns. It is short, growing 3-12 inches, and slow growing so needs infrequent mowing, highly drought tolerant, and long-lived. Good forage plant.
Where To Buy Native Lawn Seeds, Plugs, and Sod
- Stock Seed Farms - Prairie Grass - Wild Flower - Buffalo Grass ...
- Stock Seed Farms markets and grows wild flowers, wildflower, native grasses, prairie grass,buffalo grass, pasture, pasture seed, pasture grass, forage grass ...
- Prairie Nursery
- Native Plants and Seeds for Prairies, Moist Meadows, Woodlands, and Savannas
- Prairie Moon Nursery
- Suppliers of native plants and seeds for prairie restoration, natural landscaping, and wildflower gardens
More Common Grasses of the American Prairie
- Cord Grass (Spartina pectinata)
- Gammagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides)
- Indian Rice Grass (Achnatherum hymenoides)
- Needle and Thread (Hesperostpa comata)
- Prairie Three Awn (Aristida oligantha)
- Redtop (Tridens flavus)
- Western Wheatgrass (Elymus smithii)
Learn About Prairie Restoration
Interested in prairie restoration? This lens features information about planning, planting, and maintaining prairie restoration projects ranging in size from a small border to an acreage.
by kerryg
Kerry began her first tallgrass restoration project at the age of 13
and has been a passionate advocate of prairie restoration and
conservation ever s...
more »
- 39 featured lenses
- Winner of 7 trophies!
- Top lens » Fantasy Worldbuilding Resources
Feeling creative?
Create a Lens!
Explore related pages
- Best Battery Operated Weed Eater in 2012 Best Battery Operated Weed Eater in 2012
- Little House Unit Study Little House Unit Study
- What is the Best Lawn Mower under $500, $300 and $200 dollars in 2012? What is the Best Lawn Mower under $500, $300 and $200 dollars in 2012?
- John Deere Lawnmower Hoods John Deere Lawnmower Hoods
- Free Clip Art Images - Summer, Father's Day, Birthday & Much More! Free Clip Art Images - Summer, Father's Day, Birthday & Much More!
- Minecraft Blocks - Finding, Using and Creating Minecraft Blocks Minecraft Blocks - Finding, Using and Creating Minecraft Blocks
