Yellow prairie grass adds golden fall color

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu

Golden Sunset, yellow prairie grass (Indiangrass)

In the last few weeks, while driving to my office, I’ve noticed the blooms of yellow prairie grass, or Indiangrass, along roadsides. While I love the blooms of many warm-season grasses, yellow prairie grass always catches my eye.

Indiangrass flowers. Photo: Joseph A. Marcus, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Sorghastrum nutans is a native perennial bunchgrass that was one of the dominant species in North American tallgrass prairies. Native from Saskatchewan south to Arizona, east to Florida, and north to Quebec, S. nutans grows well in zones 4 through 9.

It is drought-tolerant and adaptable to a wide variety of soils, although it may flop in moist, rich soils. Growing up to six feet tall, it has a clumping, upright form, with blue-green foliage. The leaves of yellow prairie grass usually stay green until the first frost, when they turn yellow-orange.

S. nutans forms golden, plume-like panicle flowers beginning in August that add a lovely pop to any garden. They will stay on the plant through winter, providing winter interest.

• Common names: Yellow prairie grass, Indiangrass
• Botanical/scientific name: Sorghastrum nutans
• Place of origin: North America
• Features of interest: Flashy blooms, excellent wildlife support

Wildlife benefits

Pepper-and-salt skipper. Photo: Marcie O’Connor @ bugguide.net

Indiangrass is an excellent plant for wildlife and is often used for habitat restoration. Its fibrous root system makes it a good choice for stabilizing erosion-prone areas.

Songbirds feast on its seeds and, along with ground-nesting birds, use it for nesting cover.

It is a larval host plant for the pepper-and-salt skipper (Amblyscirtes hegon), a small butterfly found throughout eastern North America, and it is a preferred food source for several grasshopper species.

To top it all off, it is highly resistant to deer.

Yellow prairie grass in the garden

In the garden, yellow prairie grass requires full sun.

It spreads via rhizomes and can be divided in early spring. It will also spread via seed. When sowing seeds, ensure at least 30 days of cold and moist conditions to trigger germination.

If flopping plants are a concern in your garden, consider the University of Minnesota’s yellow prairie grass cultivar, Golden Sunset ^TM. Released in 2020 and hardy to zone 3, it has been bred to stay upright in gardens. It is now available at nurseries across Minnesota.

If you are looking for another grass to add to your garden, consider Sorghastrum nutans. Its yellow, fluffy blooms stand out and provide excellent resources for wildlife.

More from Extension

• Ornamental grasses for shady sites
• Plants and landscapes to support pollinators and butterflies
• Planting and maintaining a prairie garden