Indiangrass

Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash - Grass family

Size

Mature Height: Up to around 6.0 feet

Plant Type: Graminoid

Root Depth: 24 inches

Growth Form: Bunch

Growth Rate: Moderate

Features

Flower Color: Yellow

Conspicuous Flowers: No

Bloom Time: Late Spring

Seasonal Growth: Summer and Fall

Evergreen: No

Fall Colors: No

Conditions

Shade Tolerance: Intolerant

Clay Soil Tolerance: Yes

Sandy Soil Tolerance: Yes

Drought Tolerance: Medium

Flood Tolerance: Low

Fire Tolerance: High

Salt Tolerance: Medium

Ecosystem Interactions

Pollinators: Nesting and Structure (Bees); Larval Host (Butterfly); Larval Host (Moth); Wind

Larval Species depending on Indiangrass: Amblyscirtes hegon, Faronta albilinea, Faronta diffusa, Neonympha areolata

Native Range

  • USA:  Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode I., South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
  • CAN:  Manitoba, Ontario, Québec, Saskatchewan
  • MEX:  Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest
Regional Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

State-level native status is based on data available through Plants of the World Online. Regional Native Status comes from the USDA Plants Database. For more detailed native status information, please refer to BONAP.