Mt Cuba Center
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Carex barrattii
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Sporobolus heterolepis

Native Plants

Prairie Dropseed

3 Photos


Summary

Prairie dropseed is a long-lived, drought tolerant perennial that is ideal as a ground-cover or accent plant for hot and dry sites. The attractive mound of hair-like foliage is medium green, up to 3’ wide and 1½’ tall.  In late summer, numerous 2-3’ tall  spikes emerge from the clump and terminate in an airy, tan colored inflorescence. Plants should be sited in well-drained, rocky to gravelly, soil of low fertility in full sun. Take advantage of its fall color that ranges from yellow to golden orange and plant it with Schizachyrium scoparium, Liatris pilosa, Euthamia caroliniana, Pycnanthemum tenuifolium, Chrysopsis mariana, and Asclepias tuberosa.


More Details

  • Plant Type
    grasssedge 
  • Sun/Shade Conditions
    filtered-shade, full-sun 
  • Foliage Character
    deciduous 
  • Soil Moisture
    average, dry, moist 
  • Flowering Period
    early-fall, late-summer, mid-summer
  • Soil PH
    adaptable 
  • Flower Color
    white 
  • Summer Foliage Color
    green 
  • Fall Foliage Color
    green, orange, yellow 
  • Fruit/Seed Color
    tan