Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans)

NPS/Gordon Dietzman Prairie Home Introduction One of the signature grasses of the tallgrass prairie, this attractive grass grows to be 3 to 5 feet tall, sometimes even taller. It has large, soft plumes with glossy bronze seedheads in the fall and makes an excellent addition to dried flower arrangements. Indian grass prefers drier conditions, but also does well on slightly moister soils and will even tolerate an occasional flood. It will grow in full sun to fairly deep shade and was once, along with the bluestems, a dominant grass species in North American tallgrass prairies and oak savannas. Both domestic livestock and wildlife will eat it, and it is highly preferred over less palatable grasses. Find It Coldwater Spring Indian Mounds Regional Park Grey Cloud Dunes SNA Cenaiko Lake (East Coon Rapids Regional Park) Hastings River Flats Park Want to Help Us Better Understand the Park? See our iNaturalist project, "The Life of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area" and contribute to it by downloading the iNaturalist app and uploading your sightings of this species, and others, to the project. You can also upload your sightings from your computer.