Native of the Month...

Fall begins in three days, but we are already reaping the benefits: the weather is beautiful! It is time for the mad dash to complete all the fall maintenance issues in our gardens and yards. We are nearing the deadline of over seeding turf, and we are moving into the fall planting and cleanup portion of our maintenance schedule!

So with that, I thought we could discuss one of my favorite perennials as of late. After that terrible summer, this is another award deserving native that wasn't even phased by our recent drought conditions. Prairie Dropseed, Sporobolus heterolepis, has proven itself thus far and then some!

Sporobolus heterolepis (Prairie Dropseed)

This is a grass-like perennial that adds great texture to any garden and its height is great for green backdrops or to break up walls and soften structures. It gets about three feet tall, and nearly just as wide. It needs some watering to get established, but after that it is on its own with little to no maintenance, other then a yearly trim!

We cut this back in the late winter with our other ornamental grasses. Although it turns brown in the winter, it still has interest, and looks wonderful catching the snow, making a drastic effect on your winter garden. This is another ideal plant for the lazy gardener like myself!

New Prairie Dropseed Planting at the new Red Parking Lot.

This plant is also very tolerable of many conditions. It does well in dry sites, but will also fair well in a moist location such as a rain garden. It does need a lot of sun to be upright, as it gets a little scraggly in the shade, but will tolerate a little shade as well.

Thanks for reading, plant native when you can! See you outside!