Delicate grass, whispy plumes.		Smells like burnt popcorn.

Plume Picture

Botanical Name: Sporobolus heterolepsis

Family: Poaceae (Grass)

Common Name: Prairie Dropseed

Latin: Sporobolus (spor-AH-boh-lus) heterolepis (het-er-oh-LEP-is)

Description: A native prairie grass which forms handsome, arching clumps. The fine textured, green leaves are 1/16" wide, produce a flowing mound, and turn golden hues in the fall. Long, refined, airy panicles appear in August. Prairie Dropseed is extremely drought tolerant. The fragrance of the plume has been compared to burnt buttered popcorn. Very slow growing requiring at least four years to attain significant size. This long-lived, trouble-free plant just keeps getting bigger for decades without any center dieback or need for renewal.

Zone: 5a

Origin: North American prairies, from Quebec to Saskatchewan, south to Connecticut, Texas, and Colorado

Leaf Blade (wxl): 1/16 x 20

Foliage (wxh): 24 x 10, Mound - Mounded; top growth covers lower growth

Plume (hxlxw): 40 x 7.00 x 2.00, Upright Divergent - Plume grows up and out in an erect or stiffy ascending manner

Sun: 1/2 to Full Sun, Tolerant to All Stated Sun Ranges

Moisture: Well drained

Foliage Color - Summer: Green, Medium Fall: Yellow Winter: Tan/Light Brown

Space: 18-24"

Texture:

Habit: