Indian Grass Drought Tolerant Native Grass Seeds For Xeriscaping

Indian Grass Seeds

Grass Specifications

Season: Perennial

USDA Zones: 4 - 9

Height: 36 - 60 inches

Width: 24 - 26 inches

Foliage Color: Silvery blue

Flower Color: Golden brown

Fall Color: Yellow to bronze

Soil Requirement: Well-drained

Environment: Full sun

Planting Directions

Temperature: Minimum soil temp 50F

Depth: 1/4 inch

Sowing Rate: 8 - 12 PLS lbs per acre or 1/2 - 1 PLS lb per 1000 square feet for ornamental plantings

Moisture: Keep moist until germination occurs

Care & Maintenance: Indian Grass

Holt Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans) - Start Indian Grass seed for this versatile, perennial, prairie grass. Indiangrass is a beautiful, clumping, native grass of medium color, turning to a showy yellow to bronze color in the fall. It will normally retain some color throughout the winter. At one time Indian Grass grew throughout the prairies of central and eastern United States. It grows best in deep, well-drained floodplain soils but is highly tolerant of poorly to excessively well-drained soils, acid to alkaline conditions, and textures ranging from sand to clay. In good soils this native grass can get up to 6 - 7 feet tall, but 3 - 5 feet tall is more normal.

Indian Grass has many uses. It is very palatable for livestock in its active growing season and provides an excellent wild life habitat. Since it is very tolerant of poor soils, it can be used for erosion control in many areas where other plants won't thrive. Native prairie grasses are often used for landscaping as an ornamental grass, a border plant, or used alone or combined with other native grasses, such as the bluestem grasses, to create a meadow look or even combined with wildflowers.

How To Grow Indian Grass Seed: Fresh native grass seed may be sown in the fall and expected to sprout when the soil warms up in the spring, or firmly planted 0.25 in deep in early spring. It should not be mowed or grazed at all the first year.

8 - 12 PLS lbs per acre or 1/2 - 1 PLS lb per 1000 square feet for ornamental plantings.

PLS pounds - Pure Live Seed, or PLS, is the percentage of viable seed in a given lot. It is calculated by multiplying the purity percentage by the total germination percentage. For example, 95% purity multiplied by 85% total germination equals a 80.75% PLS. This means that out of every bulk pound of that bag of native grass seed that you plant, 80.75% of it is actually seed of that tagged variety and has the potential to germinate. Weights listed are bulk pounds.