‘Indian Steel’ Blue Prairie Grass
Sorghastrum nutans
Other Names: Indian Steele Indian Grass, Blue Indian Grass
Plant Details
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 4a-9b (3?) Find Your Zone
Plant Type: Ornamental Grass
Height at Maturity: Foliage 2-3′; In Bloom: 5′
Width at Maturity: 2-3′
Spacing: 30″ for mass plantings, 6′ or more for space between plants
Spacing: 30″ for mass plantings, 6′ or more for space between plants
Growth Habit / Form: Clumping, Grassy, Upright, Vertical, Narrow
Growth Rate: Moderate to Fast
Flower Color: Golden Yellow turning to Chestnut brown in fall
Flower Size: Spikelets 12″ panicles
Flowering Period: Late Summer thru Early Fall
Flower Type: Spikelet
Fragrant Flowers: No
Foliage Color: Blue turning Gold and Bronze shades in Fall
Fragrant Foliage: No
Berries: Seed
Seed Color: Bronze Copper
Sun Needs: Full to Mostly Sun
Water Needs: Average
Soil Type: Clay, Loam, Sandy, Silty, Rocky
Soil Moisture / Drainage: Moist But Well Drained to Dry
Soil pH: 6.0 – 8.0
Maintenance / Care: Very Low
Attracts: Birds, Butterflies, Visual Attention
Resistances: Deer, Disease, Drought, Heat, Humidity, Insect, Rabbits, Wet Soil
Special Attributes
One of the most attractive native ornamental grasses, ‘Indian Steel’ Blue Prairie Grass is a stately selection sporting a clump of steel-blue blades from which rise distinctively vertical stems topped with feathery, bronze-colored panicles. What’s really unusual is that this ornamental grass actually does produce what is considered a flower. The plumes have cute little bright yellow pollen sacs that stand out in the dark seed heads. The foliage might go to 3 feet in height while the flowers can soar up to 6 feet. Exceptionally low-maintenance and adaptive, Indian Steel will thrive in hot or cold climates and heavy clay to shallow, dry rocky soils, provided the soil is well drained. It prefers and will take all the sun you can give it. Provides excellent cover year round for birds and mammals and the seeds are a delight to songbirds in fall and winter. Deer won’t touch it.
Landscape & Garden Uses
A very versatile grass, Indian Steel Blue Prairie Grass is great for containers or as an accent, in groupings or natural hedge in the landscape. A fine addition to ornamental grass gardens, rock gardens, bird gardens, yellow theme gardens, bird gardens, native gardens and the Xeriscape (low water needs).
Spacing: 30 inches apart for mass plantings; 6 feet or more for space between plants
How To Measure for Total Square Feet
How Many Plants to Fill a Planting Area
Growing Preferences
A North American native grass, Indian Steel Blue Prairie Grass is very easy to grow in a wide range of soil, even clay, sandy, rocky and dry soils. They don’t like an organically rich soil so there’s no need to add compost or humus to the native soil when planting. They grow best in full to mostly sun. We suggest at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. Maintenance is minimal. Cut clumps back to the ground in late winter before new growth begins to emerge.
Helpful Articles
Plant as you would Switch Grass
Click on a link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant, fertilize, prune and water Switch Grasses.
How To Plant And Care For Switch Grass Plants
How To Measure for Total Square Feet
How Many Plants to Fill a Planting Area
Plant Long & Prosper!
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Questions? Contact Us!
Everything I’ve purchased from Wilson Bros. has been outstanding. I never hesitate to order from them. These grasses are no exception – larger than most other sources, healthy & vibrant.——————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy your purchase for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and wonderful review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

























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