Native grasses formed the foundation of the expanses of prairies, savannas and meadows that
once covered the greater mid-west. They are a natural component, or the basis, of any designed
native landscape — offering the perfect complement to native wildflowers in both naturalized
and formal settings.
Native plants have deep roots that help hold the soil in place and greatly improve the soil's
ability to absorb and filter water, removing pollutants before they enter our rivers and streams.
During the dry summer months, native root systems reach deep into the ground to find water,
making them more drought resistant than non-native grasses.
Prairies with their native grasses are sometimes called upside-down forests because much of
the plant is below the ground. Many native grasses have roots 5 to 15 feet deep. Typical lawn grasses
reach a depth of only a few inches.
Sedges are primarily perennials, and are mostly evergreen, cool-season, shade-loving plants. They
generally prefer moist to wet environments. While more diminutive than many grasses, sedges provide
support to a variety of animals. Native sedges belong to the genus Carex, at around 2,000 species,
one of the largest plant genera on earth.
The stems of grasses are hollow and either round or flat with swollen nodes or joints along the stems.
Their leaf blades are flat and their leaf sheaths are open. The stems of sedges, on the other hand, are
generally solid and triangular. Their leaf blades may be folded, and the base of each leaf is closed
around the stem.
Grasses that mature early in the growing season and
grow while the soil is still cool are referred to as “cool season” grasses. Virginia Wild Rye
and Tufted Hairgrass are cool season grasses. Sedges are also cool season growers. Indian
Grass, Little Bluestem, Big Bluestem and Prairie Dropseed are all warm season grasses.
Big Bluestem
Benefits: Birds
Height: 5-8 feet
Bloom: Aug, Sep, Oct
Sun: Full Sun
Zones: 3-8
Soil: Clay, Loam, Sand
Moisture: Dry, Medium, Moist
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Description: Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) is a tall perennial, warm season
grass that was the dominant grass of the tallgrass prairie. It may be grown as an ornamental grass
because of its attractive foliage which changes color seasonally, its good architectural height and
its interesting flower/seed heads.
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Buffalograss
Benefits: None
Height: 3-9 inches
Bloom: Jun, Jul, Aug
Sun: Full Sun
Zones: 4-8
Soil: Acid, Clay, Loam
Moisture: Dry, Medium
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Description: Buffalograss, Buchloe dactyloides, is a dioecious,
drought-tolerant, heat-resistant, fine-textured, warm season perennial grass. It spreads by stolons.
Somewhat inconspicuous green flowers bloom from June until August. Easily grown in average, dry
to medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun.
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Fox Sedge
Benefits: None
Height: 1-3 feet
Bloom: May, Jun, Jul
Sun: Full Sun, Part Sun
Zones: 3-9
Soil: Loam
Moisture: Wet
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Description: Fox Sedge (Carex vulpinoidea) is a remarkable wetland sedge grows
to form clumps two feet in diameter. In mid-summer seed heads spray out from the center
of the plant for an excellent effect. Its narrow grass-like leaf blades grow in 2 feet clumps
up to 3 feet in height. The seed heads, which spray out attractively from the center of the
clump, resemble a fox's tail but are short-lived.
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Indian Grass
Benefits: Butterflies
Height: 5-8 feet
Bloom: Aug, Sep
Sun: Full Sun
Zones: 3-9
Soil: Clay, Loam, Sand
Moisture: Dry, Medium, Moist
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Description: Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans) is a warm season perennial
grass which typically occurs in prairies, glades and open woods. It was one of the dominant
grasses of the tallgrass prairie which once covered large parts of the Midwest. It forms
upright clumps of slender, blue-green leaves Foliage turns orange-yellow
in fall and usually retains hints of color into the winter. Effective for erosion control
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Little Bluestem
Benefits: N/A
Height: 2-4 feet
Bloom: Aug to Feb
Sun: Full Sun
Zones: 3-10
Soil: Loam
Moisture: Dry, Medium
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Description: Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), a native to prairies, fields, clearings, hills,
limestone glades, roadsides, waste areas and open woods. It was one of the dominant grasses
of the vast tallgrass prairie region which once covered rich and fertile soils. Purplish-bronze
flowers on branched stems rising above the foliage in August. Flowers are followed by clusters
of fluffy, silvery-white seed heads which are attractive and often persist into winter.
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Pennsylvania Sedge
Benefits: None
Height: 6-12 inches
Bloom: May
Sun: Part Shade, Shade
Zones: 3-9
Soil: Loam
Moisture: Dry, Medium
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Description: Pennsylvania Sedge (Carex pensylvanica) is a shade-loving perennial sedge that is
native to thickets and dry woodland areas. It typically grows in loose colonies with a
creeping habit. Roots are reddish brown. It is often found in areas with oak trees, hence
the additional common name of oak sedge. This is a low sedge with soft, delicate, arching,
semi-evergreen leaves. It typically grows in a clump. It is semi-evergreen in moderately
cold winter climates.
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Pink Muhly Grass
Benefits: Birds
Height: 2-3 feet
Bloom: Sep, Oct
Sun: Full Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade
Zones: 5-11
Soil: Clay, Loam, Sand, Rocky
Moisture: Dry, Medium
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Description: Pink Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) is one of the most
exciting members of the grass world. It is sought after for several reasons: spectacular
pink plume color, drought tolerance and undemanding nature. Pink Muhly Grass grows in
a mound with erect, blue-green foliage until September when spectacular, billowing pink
seed heads form a cotton-candy crown.
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Prairie Dropseed
Benefits: Butterflies
Height: 2-3 feet
Bloom: Aug, Sep
Sun: Full Sun, Part Sun
Zones: 3-9
Soil: Clay, Loam, Sand
Moisture: Medium
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Description: Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepsis) is a great choice of grass for your native
landscape is Prairie Dropseed, also called Northern Dropseed. When seed stalks emerge
late summer, brush up against it for a cilantro smell. It has a wonderful tussock-forming
growth habit and takes on a nice golden hue all throughout the fall and winter.
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Sideoats Grama
Benefits: None
Height: 2-3 feet
Bloom: Aug, Sep
Sun: Full Sun
Zones: 3-9
Soil: Sand, Loam
Moisture: Dry, Medium
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Description: Side-oats Grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), is a rarity among
native grasses in that it sports tiny attractive flowers during its summer bloom time.
When the seed heads dry, they have a distinctly oat-like appearance. Side-oats is a
warm-season grass that grows actively during the summer months when soil temperatures
are warm. May be mowed for turf grass.
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Tufted Hair Grass
Benefits: Butterflies, Birds
Height: 1-3 feet
Bloom: June
Sun: Part Shade
Zones: 4-0
Soil: Clay, Loam, Sand
Moisture: Medium, Moist
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Description: Tufted Hair Grass (Deschampsia cespitosa) is a clump-forming,
cool season grass which is often grown as an ornamental. The grass emerges green and
turns gold late in the season, keeping good color and form for winter interest. It typically
forms a low, dense tussock of very thin, arching, flat dark green grass blades. Numerous
flower stems rise in summer from the foliage mound to a height of 3 feet.
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Vanilla Sweet Grass
Benefits: None
Height: 1-2 feet
Bloom: Jul, Aug
Sun: Full Sun
Zones: 3-9
Soil: Clay, Loam, Sand
Moisture: Medium, Moist
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Description: Vanilla Sweet Grass (Hierocloë odorata) is an aromatic,
cool-season perennial growing 10-24 inches in height and spreading about 2 feet per year
by underground rhizomes. Its natural habitat is wetlands, prairies, and savannas in wet to
medium moisture soils. Though Sweet Grass prefers rich, moist soils, it will grow in almost
any soil that receives a minimum of a half day of sun
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Virginia Wild Rye
Benefits: Butterflies
Height: 4-5 feet
Bloom: Jul, Aug
Sun: Full Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade
Zones: 2-8
Soil: Clay, Loam, Sand
Moisture: Medium, Moist, Wet
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Description: Virginia Wild Rye (Elymus virginicus) is a graceful,
short-lived perennial similar to Canada Wild Rye, but with a smaller, less showy seed
head. It actively grows during the spring and fall when soil temperatures are cool. As a
fast-growing grass, Virginia Wild Rye is a good choice for erosion control and stream
bank stabilization. It prefers rich, moist areas in clearings or along the forest edge, but
can also grow in drier, sunny conditions as well.
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