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