Sporobolus heterolepis - Prairie Dropseed

Prairie Dropseed has fine, arching green blades that turn golden-orange in fall, often touched with hints of red, creating a stunning seasonal display. In late summer, airy, fragrant seed heads emerge, highly nutritious for birds and small mammals, while adding a delicate, cloud-like effect to the garden. This warm-season bunchgrass also provides essential nesting cover and shelter for ground-nesting birds and small mammals. Its dense, fountain-like tufts offer protective habitat for native bees.

A graceful, clump-forming native grass, Prairie Dropseed brings movement and texture to both urban and rural landscapes. Highly drought-tolerant and adaptable, it thrives in well-drained soils, making it an ideal choice for self-sustaining, low-maintenance gardens, prairie plantings, and naturalized spaces. It is deer-resistant due to its fine texture and tough, wiry foliage, making it unpalatable.