FNPS Plant Database

Sorghastrum secundum

lopsided Indiangrass
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by:
  • Photo by: Eleanor Dietrich, Magnolia Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

lopsided Indiangrass

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Sorghastrum secundum

Family:

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.

Availability:

Native Nurseries, Specialty Provider, Seed

Propagation:

Seed, division of clumps. Seeds are available through the Florida Wildflowers Growers Cooperative.

Light:

Full Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

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

Coming Soon!

Usually moist, occasional inundation ---to--- Short 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:

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.



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Ecology

Wildlife:

Caterpillars

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.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

Citations:

Haehle, Robert G. and Joan Brookwell.  1999.  Native Florida Plants.  Gulf Publishing Company.  Houston, TX.



Hammer, Roger. 2015.  Attracting hummingbirds and butterflies in tropical Florida.  University Presses of Florida.



Huegel, Craig, N.  2012.  Native wildflowers and other ground covers for Florida landscapes. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.



Nelson, Gil.  2003.  Florida's Best Landscape Plants. Association of Florida Native Nurseries.



https://www.regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/plantdetail.asp?tx=Sorgsecu



Osorio, Rufino. 2001. A gardener's guide to Florida's native Plants.  University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.



Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. 2021. Atlas of Florida Plants ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ).  Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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