Prairie dropseed
Sporobolus heterolepis
Fine fountains of leaves; the flowers smell faintly of popcorn.
Hardiness: zones 3 to 9
Light: full sun
Size: about 2.5 ft tall, 2 ft wide
From: Central North America
Drought-hardy once established
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: wildlife.
Native to: Midwest & Great Lakes, Great Plains & Texas, Eastern Canada, Western Canada, Northeast. Hardy in zones 3 to 9.
The story
Prairie dropseed is the most elegant grass of the prairie, a fountain of leaves as fine as hair. In August its flowers scent the air with something between popcorn and coriander. Plains peoples ground the tiny seeds into flour.
Planting
Full sun and well-drained soil. Space plants 2 feet apart; they are slow from seed.
Growing
Comb or cut out old leaves in early spring. It needs nothing else, for decades.
Harvest and use
Seed for sparrows, golden-orange fall color, and a tidy edging that never needs dividing.
What to watch for
Slow: allow three years for a full clump.
See if Prairie dropseed fits your yard
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More native and wild plants
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home