Prairie Dropseed

Prairie Dropseed

Sporobolus heterolepis

Poaceae (Grass Family)

Sporobolus heterolepis: Prairie Dropseed

Location near campus: in ornamental grass bed toward southwest corner of Master Gardener areas north of Botanical Center Building in Nathanael Greene park at the Botanical Center; also along the west side of the Xeriscape Garden at the corner of Linwood & National in Springfield.

• native warm-season grass with very thin, soft, flexible, dark-green leaves
• basal leaves arch over to form a mound about 12-18" tall
• very slender flowering stalks are 2-4’ long, arching, topped by open pyramidal panicles
• panicles may have musty, earthy odor if rubbed
• prefers full-sun, moist, well-drained soils, although can tolerate dry soils and slight shade