Prairie Dropseed, Sporobolus heterolepis

It’s hard to beat Prairie Dropseed when it comes to gardening with native plants. Its lovely growth habit forms a tussock of slender green leaves in the summer before sending up delicate feathery seed heads.  I’ve always said that the way the leaves grow makes it look like someone buried a troll head in the ground! It’s a great plant to give texture to a native garden and provides visual interest year round. The leaves turn an attractive golden color that persists all winter.

Prairie Dropseed is known as a prairie conservative. It does not establish well in seed mixes and tends to gain a foothold only in very mature prairies. In these old growth prairies, they can become one of the more dominant species, but sadly there are very few of these locations left in Minnesota.

Life Cycle: Perennial
Size: 24″
Sun: Full, Partial
Soil:  Medium-Wet, Medium, Medium-Dry, Dry
Bloom Time: August – October
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