Myriad Botanical Gardens - Oklahoma City, USA

Common name: Prairie Dropseed

Family: Poaceae (Grass Family)

Distribution: North America

Hardiness: 3a

Life form: Perennial plant

Comments: Prairie dropseed is a clump-forming, warm season, Missouri native perennial grass which occurs in prairies, glades, open ground and along railroads throughout much of the State. Fine-textured, hair-like, medium green leaves (to 20" long and 1/16" wide) typically form an arching foliage mound to 15" tall and 18" wide. Foliage turns golden with orange hues in fall, fading to light bronze in winter. Open, branching flower panicles appear on slender stems which rise well above the foliage clump in late summer to 30-36" tall. Flowers have pink and brown tints, but are perhaps most noted for their unique fragrance (hints of coriander) Which attracts many birds. Tiny rounded mature seeds drop to the ground from their hulls in autumn giving rise to the descriptive common name.self-seed in the garden.