Family Poaceae
Originating from North America.
- Dense clumps of fine, perennial thread-like foliage make neat fountain-like mounds.
- Hazy clouds of fine, scented flowers appear in summer.
- An easy-to-grow ornamental grass thrives in any light soil in full sun.
Prairie Dropseed in Your Garden
Fine and gauzy, soft and silky, yet structural and distinctive in form. Its gracefully arching low mounds of foliage are bright apple-green in spring and summer. It turns incendiary shades of gold and smouldering red in autumn, adding fiery colour to its airy character.
Additionally, its fine gauzy clouds of flowers are scented! A novel quality for colourful autumn grass plants, they smell of honey and popcorn, with fresh coriander hints. Their swaying stems are held above the foliage, with pink tints mellowing to tan late in summer. Hardy in all UK gardens, it reaches 1m high and wide in 2–5 years.
Irresistible for contemporary Norfolk gardens, or formal, traditional-English planting schemes in Suffolk. It is an invaluable grass for adding texture and subtle architectural form. It is tolerant of poor soil and dry conditions, making the perfect grass for waterwise gardeners. In wildlife gardens it makes naturalistic-looking colonies and its abundant seeds are a food source for birds.
Growing Tips for Sporobolus heterolepis, the Prairie Dropseed
- Soil and Sun: Plant in well-drained, light soil in full sun.
- Planting: Set in spring or autumn; summer planting requires extra attention to watering. Plunge for 20 minutes to drench the root ball before planting. Do not add compost or improvers to soil.
- Watering: Moderate; tolerates drought once rooted, water sparingly once established.
- Pruning: Cut back dead foliage in late winter.
When choosing a colourful autumn grass plant, this species offers a very different look to the many colourful Miscanthus varieties. Its soft texture, spectacular autumn colours, and scented flowers make it a must-have species for any style of garden.
Planting Ideas for Prairie Dropseed
Create a wispy wonderland of wonderfully soft and airy textures. From low mounds of fountain-like foliage to tall swaying diaphanous flowers and seeds, indulge in airy fairy-ness. Add Pennisetum ‘Black Beauty’, ‘Little Bunny’, and ‘Red Head’, Anemanthele lessoniana, and Carex elata ‘Aurea’. Their low and medium heights will make waves of slender foliage and soft flowers alongside the Dropseed.
Add Carex testacea and Panicum ‘Shenandoah’ for extra autumnal colour, then surround with swaying taller varieties. Stipa gigantea, Miscanthus ‘Grosse Fontain’, giganteus, and strictus add drama with their towering cascades. Anchor the fly-away foliage with the evergreen slender foliage of Eucalyptus nicholii, nitens, and perriniana. Bold and solid Magnolia ‘Alta’ makes the perfect contrasting exclamation.
