Sorghastrum nutans

Yellow Indiangrass

Poaceae (Gramineae)

Plant Specifics

Form:	Grass
Size:	3-5 (8) ft
Life Span:	Short-lived perennial
Flower Color:	Yellow
Fruit Color:	Yellow,orange
Phenology:	Winter dormant
Noted for:	Fall color, Showy flowers, Showy fruits

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.
Propagation:	Seed. Division of clumps.
Availability:	Native nurseries, Seed
Light:	Full Sun,  Part Shade
Moisture Tolerance:	always floodedextremely dry
	(Somewhat moist, no flooding ----- to ----- Very long very dry periods)
Moisture Tolerance:	Somewhat moist, no flooding ----- to ----- Very long very dry periods
Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:	Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
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

Ecology

Wildlife:	Birds eat seeds.
Insects:	Larval host for pepper and salt skipper (Amblyscirtes hegon).
Native Habitats:	Flatwoods, sandhills.

Distribution and Planting Zones

Comments

General Comments:

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