Family: Poaceae
Upright bunching tall grass reaching up to 7’ or more in prime conditions, though often smaller in our region. It blooms from late summer to early fall, producing branched clusters (panicles) of spikelets. The spikelets are golden-brown during the blooming period. This upright grass has blueish foliage which will turn reddish brown in fall.

Full sun to shady spots (develops best in full sun) with regular irrigation. This is a winter dormant grass; cut back in February.

Native grasses are extremely important plants for wildlife: as nesting material for birds as well as native bees and other insects, as habitat for many organisms, and as food: adult insects eat the foliage, granivorous birds depend on many species for seeds, and most grass species are used as larval hosts for many species of butterflies and moths, especially skippers. Many bee species collect the pollen of many species of grasses. All can be used for desert tortoise enclosures.

Grasses also play an important role in the ecology of soil, and because they are monocots, they can be planted close to other species of plants (the nature of the root systems of monocots renders them less imposing on neighboring plants). They hold soil down and help prevent erosion. Many species are pioneer plants that convert disturbed soils into hospitable places for other plants.

Sorghastrum is derived from the genus Sorghum and astrum, the Latin suffix indicating inferiority or incomplete resemblance, while nutans means nodding or drooping. The more common name, indiangrass, is considered somewhat problematic. Golden feather grass has been gaining popularity as a replacement.

Found in a variety of habitats, from dry slopes to moist canyons, to open sites from 4,500-6,500 ft. in much of North America from Arizona, north to Saskatchewan, Canada and east to Minnesota; south to southern Mexico and in South America. Sorghastrum nutans is prominent in the tallgrass prairie

Sorghastrum nutans on SEINET

Photo by outdoorsie on iNaturalist