Indiangrass
(Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash)
Family: Poaceae
Other Common Names: Indian Grass, Yellow Indian Grass
Type: Perennial grass
Natural Habitat: Indiangrass is a perennial bunch grass with a strong presence in the Edwards Plateau and South Texas Plains. Along with little bluestem, big bluestem and switchgrass, Indiangrass is a chief component of the tallgrass prairie.
Growth: Usually attains a height of four feet but can get to eight feet.
Deer Resistance: High.
Wildlife: Seed eaten by small mammals and several songbird species and provides cover for birds including bobwhite quail and turkey. Host plant for skipper butterflies.
Light Tolerance: Grows best in full sun but will tolerate some shade.
Flowers and Seeds: Yellow to golden, August through November.
Leaves: Blue-green in color turning to purple or copper in fall. Four to twelve inches in length with hairs at the collars.
Water Requirements: Fairly xeric. Once established, little to no watering is required.
Soil Requirements: Clayey limestone, sandy loam. Can tolerate almost any soil.
Planting Instructions: Best planted by seeds that may be obtained from a reliable source such as Native American Seed Company (www.seedsource.com). Plant in a meadow setting or else en masse in the garden. The time of planting is optimal from late April to mid-June. Rake or lightly till planting area. After scattering seed ensure it makes firm ground contact which can be done by rolling or raking. Ideally, seed should be buried no more than ¼ inch deep. After establishment, Indiangrass is self-seeding.
Some nurseries may have potted specimens available. Space plants 2-3 feet apart. Dig hole at least two times wider than, but the same depth as, the root ball in a nursery container. Sides of the hole should be irregular, not smooth. Remove plant from container, taking care to support the root ball. Loosen exterior roots gently with your fingers. If the plant is root bound and cannot be loosened by hand, the outer roots may be cut in several places. Lift the plant by the root ball and place in the hole. Backfill hole using soil that was dug out. Do not add any soil to the top of the root ball, but a thin layer of compost may be spread over the root ball and soil surface. Gently firm the soil with your hands, but do not tamp it down. Place about an inch of mulch over the bare soil around, but not touching, the plant base.
Watering Instructions: Watering the seed bed is essential. After it is established, Indiangrass is largely xeric, but watering a new stand is helpful if drought conditions are prevalent. Do not over-water. Avoid fertilizing the first year of planting. Thereafter, lightly fertilizing will enhance growth but is not necessary.
NICE! Tip: With established stands of Indiangrass, cut back to ground level in late winter to expose new growth to sunlight. Since it has a massive root system, it can be highly effective in erosion control and is an essential planting for prairie restoration. It can also be mixed in with other native shrubs to create a field border. Beautiful and diverse, Indiangrass also is an ornamental that can serve as a back border for a flower or butterfly garden or as an accent plant.
Look for the NICE! Plant of the Month signs and information sheets on your next visit to a participating Boerne nursery. And thank you for supporting native plants by using them in your landscapes.