Sorghastrum secundum

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Lopsided Indiangrass

Poaceae (Gramineae)

Plant Specifics

Form:Grass
Size:1 to 6 ft tall by 1 ft wide
Life Span:Long-lived perennial
Flower Color:Yellow
Fruit Color:Yellow
Phenology:Winter dormant. Blooms in fall.
Noted for:Showy flowers, Showy fruits

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:Typically grown in the background of a wildflower garden as its tall flower stalks are only visible in fall. The remainder of the year is looks like a moderate-sized grass.
Considerations:In the landscape will need annual cutting back.
Propagation:Seed, division of clumps. Seeds are available through the Florida Wildflowers Growers Cooperative.
Availability:Native nurseries, Seed, Specialty providers
Light: Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance:
always floodedextremely dry
 (Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Short very dry periods)
Moisture Tolerance: Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Short 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:

Ecology

Wildlife:
Insects:
 

Larval host for "grass skippers" including swarthy skipper (Nastra lherminier), Delaware skipper (Anatrytone arogos), Eufala skipper (Lerodea eufala) and twin spot Skipper (Oligoria maculate).

Native Habitats:Dry-moist sites. Flatwoods, secondary pinelands, sandhill.

Distribution and Planting Zones

Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones

Suitable to grow in:
10A 10B 11 8A 8B 9A 9B 

USDA zones are based on minimum winter temperatures