Indiangrass

Sorghastrum nutans

Poaceae (Grass Family)

▲▼ flowering plants

▲▼ flowering plants

▲ inflorescence

Sorghastrum nutans:  Indiangrass

Location near campus:  in native plant bed toward southeast corner of Master Gardener areas north  of Botanical Center Building in Nathanael Green park at the Botanical Center.

·         native warm-season prairie grass, with about ¼ inch wide and 12-36 inch long blue-green leaves; leaf ligule has a notch in center, like claw of hammer

·         foliage grows 1-2.5 feet  

·         produces a somewhat hairy golden-brown to coppery-brown somewhat bent over panicle at tips of 3-8 foot tall flowering stems in mid to late summer

·         foliage turns tan-brown in winter

·         prefers moist, well-drained soils and needs full sun for best growth

·         too much water or fertilization will cause weaker stems that will fall over and not remain upright

·         native to Missouri