Indiangrass

Indiangrass

Sorghastrum nutans

Poaceae (Grass Family)

▲ ▼ flowering plants

▲ inflorescence

Sorghastrum nutans: Indiangrass

Location near campus: in native plant bed toward southeast corner of Master Gardener areas north of Botanical Center Building in Nathanael Greene park at the Botanical Center.

native warm-season prairie grass, with about 1/4 inch wide and 12-36 inch long blue-green leaves; leaf ligule has a notch in center, like claw of hammer
foliage grows 1-2.5 feet
produces a somewhat hairy golden-brown to coppery-brown somewhat bent over panicle at tips of 3-8 foot tall flowering stems in mid to late summer
foliage turns tan-brown in winter
prefers moist, well-drained soils and needs full sun for best growth
too much water or fertilization will cause weaker stems that will fall over and not remain upright
native to Missouri