“Where have you been all my life?!!”
Every once and a while, I come across a plant and simply fall in love.
I am not alone on this particular species, and the bandwagon is getting mighty crowded. Sporobolus heterolepis is the object of my affections…it even has an intriguing common name – Prairie Dropseed. It’s native to much of North America, short of the West Coast. Though most widespread in the Midwest, there are isolated populations in Virginia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. It’s even hardy up in the Arctic North (where Jeff and Linda live).
Sporobolus shows off some fluffitude while Echinacea tennesseensis look on in amazement. Author’s garden.
Now on to the juicy description: fine, green foliage forms fluffy mounds or tussocks up to one and a half feet tall and up to two feet wide. I describe it to my students as “pet-able” – one just wants to run their fingers through the flowing locks… The tiny, fragrant flowers appear in late summer form a fluffy cloud above the foliage and wave about on slender stems, even with the slightest breeze. I think the flowers have a coriander scent, have also heard buttered popcorn and vanilla. Seeds form and then drop to the ground around the plant (hence the common name), at which point the birds scarf them up. There is very little actual germination; the species is in fact endangered or threatened in several states (USDA Plants Database). As the weather cools, the fall color can range from bronze to orange to apricot – just gorgeous – and then turns to a tawny buff for the remainder of the winter.
Newly-planted in the Hahn Horticulture Garden at Viginia Tech – check out that fabulous fall color!
As with many prairie natives, this a very tough character once established – puts up with lousy soil, little rainfall, and is definitely drought-tolerant. We’ve added more than 100 of them to our campus meadow garden. At my favorite public garden, Chanticleer (Wayne, PA), they’re planted in huge drifts and are managed in the “natural” way, with controlled burns in the early spring.
Doubt you’d find it at a big box store, but it should be available at an independent garden center near you! Please note this one of those species that does NOT look very exciting in the pot, especially in the spring (green, grassy, that’s it). But give it a season or two in your garden and…[cue romantic violins…].
Arctic north??? I can tell I need to get you out here, Holly! We hit 105F this summer…
A very pretty, and underutilized plant. We see it in Minnesota from time to time, but it would be great to see more.
I love this grass! See it along the interstates in nice drifts along banks.
What resources do you recommend for designing and establishing meadow gardens in the southeast (to integrate into residential properties)?
Daniel, When I think of meadows, I think predominantly of grasses (with flowers scattered about, of course). I don't know of a reference specific to meadows, but Rick Darke's Encyclopedia of Grasses is a great start – lots of inspirational photos of mass plantings. Anything by Piet Oudolf or van Oehme and Sweden will contain LOTS of extremely meadow-y design ideas – they just don't use the "meadow" word that much. Hope that helps!