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Poaceae
Sorghastrum

not marked as a favorite taxon Sorghastrum nutans (Linnaeus) Nash. Common name: Yellow Indiangrass. Phenology: Late Aug-Nov. Habitat: Xeric and mesic woodlands and forests of a wide variety, prairies, barrens, powerline rights-of-way, roadbanks. Along with Andropogon gerardi, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Panicum virgatum, Sorghastrum nutans is one of the dominant grasses of the tall-grass prairie. It is also common in a variety of open habitats (natural and altered) in the forested landscape of eastern North America. Distribution: ME and QC west to s. MB, south to c. peninsular FL, TX, UT, AZ, and s. Mexico.

Glossary (beta!)

ID notes: Variable in color of the foliage, from bluish to green.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, ETx1, F, FlGr, FNA25, G, HC, Il, K4, Mex, Mi, Mo1, NcTx, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, S, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WH3, WV, Hall (1982); = Sorghastrum avenaceum (Michx.) Nash — Tx; > Sorghastrum linnaeanum (Hack.) Nash — S13; > Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash — S13; Andropogon nutans Linnaeus. Basionym: Andropogon nutans L. 1753

Links to other floras: = Sorghastrum nutans - FNA25

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
  • Great Plains: FACU
  • Midwest: FACU
  • Northcentral & Northeast: FACU

Heliophily ⓘ: 8

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image #1 of Sorghastrum nutans© Aidan Campos source | Original Image ⭷
image #2 of Sorghastrum nutans© Nathan Aaron, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Nathan Aaron source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image #3 of Sorghastrum nutans© Aidan Campos source | Original Image ⭷
image #4 of Sorghastrum nutans© Aidan Campos source | Original Image ⭷
image #5 of Sorghastrum nutans© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image #6 of Sorghastrum nutans© Jake Smith, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Jake Smith source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #7 of Sorghastrum nutans© Scott Ward; S. nutans (left), S. elliottii (right) | Original Image ⭷
image #8 of Sorghastrum nutans© skunk johnson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by skunk johnson source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image #9 of Sorghastrum nutans© Collectors SOS | Original Image ⭷
image #10 of Sorghastrum nutans© skunk johnson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by skunk johnson source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image #11 of Sorghastrum nutans© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image #12 of Sorghastrum nutans© Steven Daniel, all rights reserved, uploaded by Steven Daniel source | Original Image ⭷
image #13 of Sorghastrum nutans© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image #14 of Sorghastrum nutansno rights reserved, uploaded by Alan Weakley source CC0 | Original Image ⭷
image #15 of Sorghastrum nutans© Jay Horn source | Original Image ⭷
image #16 of Sorghastrum nutans© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image #17 of Sorghastrum nutans© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image #18 of Sorghastrum nutans© Theo Witsell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Theo Witsell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #19 of Sorghastrum nutans© Theo Witsell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Theo Witsell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #20 of Sorghastrum nutans© Collectors SOS | Original Image ⭷
image #21 of Sorghastrum nutans© Theo Witsell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Theo Witsell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #22 of Sorghastrum nutans© Radford, Ahles and Bell | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

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Height: 6 ft.

plant sale text: Indian Grass is a primary component of tall-grass prairies in the west, but is found mostly along roadsides and in old fields east of the Appalachians. It is often used in restorations of fields that have become dominated by fescue because of high-quality wildlife habitat. Ground-nesting birds such as quail depend on Indian Grass and other warm-season grasses for habitat and food. Besides its use for wildlife habitat restoration, Indian Grass is an attractive grass for landscape. As it begins to go dormant in late fall this entire grass takes on golden hues. Effective when used en masse, the golden tips sway gently in the breeze providing movement to the garden.

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germination code: 2

native range: e. & central North America to Mexico



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