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Indiangrass

Sorghastrum elliottii (sor-GAS-trum el-ee-OT-ee-eye)

Family: Poaceae Native Herbaceous (3-15 ft)

Indiangrass, is a perennial, ornamental, warm-season grass with fibrous roots in the Poaceae (grass) family. Indiangrass is native to North Carolina and can be found scattered throughout the state in open woodland habitats in dry sandy soils, and along roadsides. The plant will grow to a height of 4 to 8 feet and has rough, ribbon-like leaves. Nodding yellow flower panicles occur in late summer and early fall the seeds attracting songbirds. Deer resistance is high. Plant as an accent, or massed in groups in a rain garden or perennial border. This low maintenance drought tolerant plant is at home in a cottage garden, meadow plantings snd can provide interest in a winter garden. Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: No serious insects or plant diseases.

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 44 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Often confused with Panicum virgatum Sorghastrum nutans

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Herbaceous Perennial; Native Plant; Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Life cycle
Perennial
USDA zones
4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil drainage
Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
3 feet-6 feet; 6-feet-12 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Erect
Texture
Coarse
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Leaf type
Sheath; Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf feel
Rough
Leaf size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Alternate, simple, flat leaf blades 3/16" wide dull green to yellow-green with parallel venation. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.
Flower color
Insignificant
Flower form
Panicle
Flower detail
Nodding flower panicles occur in late summer and early fall.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Caryopsis
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Central and Southeastern United States
Wildlife value
Provides excellent cover year-round. Seeds are eaten by songbirds and small mammals.
Attracts
Small Mammals; Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall; Winter
Fruit type
Caryopsis
Landscape Use
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden; Native Garden; Winter Garden
Design feature
Accent; Mass Planting
Garden tags
#drought tolerant #winter interest #deer resistant #fall interest #native garden #native ornamental grass #NC native #fall flowers #cool season grass #flowers late summer #small mammals #bird friendly #food source fall #rough leaves #flowers early fall #border planting #winter garden #mass planting #cottage garden #fast growing #food source winter #wildlife friendly #accent #winter cover
Problems & Resistance
Resistant to
Deer; Drought
Particularly resistant to
Deer resistance is high.

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.