Photo by: Shirley Denton

Nomenclature

Common Name:

yellow Indiangrass

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Sorghastrum nutans

Family:

Poaceae (Gramineae)

Plant Specifics

Form:

grass

Size:

3-5 (8) ft

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

yellow

Fruit Color:

yellow,orange

Phenology:

winter dormant

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Showy Fruits, Fall Color

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Plant in the rear of a wildflower garden. The flower/fuit stalk is quite showy with a golden plume (the stamens are yellow)in mid-fall. The stems and fruit retain a golden straw color through the fall. The remainder of the year, the grass is much lower (about 2 ft) and blue-green in color.

Considerations:

Availability:

Native Nurseries, Seed

Propagation:

Seed. Division of clumps.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

Somewhat moist, no flooding ---to--- Very long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Soil pH:

Acidic to neutral

Suitable to Grow In:

Ecology

Wildlife:

Caterpillars, Birds

Larval host for pepper and salt skipper ( Amblyscirtes hegon ).

 Birds eat seeds.

Native Habitats:

Flatwoods, sandhills.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

This was one of the important grasses of the mid-western prairies. Survives occasional flooding and repeated burning.