Prairie dropseed is a perennial, warm season grass which produces a mophead of emerald green, hair-like foliage accompanied by tall airy stems of fragrant pink flowers in late summer. It is native to the prairies and grasslands of central North America from southern Canada to Texas.
The long, narrow blades of this clump-forming grass form an arching fountain of foliage which often curls as its ends sweep the ground. The leaves are scented when crushed. In late summer, tall stems bear airy panicles of tiny, pink, fragrant flowers which catch the light beautifully when backlit. These give way to small, tan seeds that drop to the ground in autumn (hence, the plant’s common name). The foliage becomes golden yellow with hints of orange in fall, and turns light bronze and tan in winter.
This grass grows well in full sun to light shade, and is adaptable to a wide range of conditions. Average, moist garden soils are fine, as are hot, dry, exposed sites such as roadside verges, hillsides, or parking median strips. Prairie dropseed is somewhat slow-growing, but well worth the wait. It is particularly handsome grown in huge masses as a groundcover, and also works well in meadow gardens or mixed borders. (info source: Learn2Grow.com)
Genus - Sporobolus
Species - Heterolepis
Common name - Prairie Dropseed
Pre-Treatment - Not-required
Hardiness zones - 3 - 8
Height - 18 - 36" / 0,50 - 0,90 m
Spread - 20 - 24" / 0,50 - 0,60 m
Plant type - Grass
Exposure - Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade
Growth rate - Medium
Soil PH - Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil type - Clay, Loam, Sand
Water requirements - Drought Tolerant, Average Water
Care level - Easy
Landscape uses - Container, Edging, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Wildflower
Germination rate - 86%
Bloom season - Late Summer
Leaf / Flower color - Green, autumn - Yellow, Orange, Gold / Pink