This iconic North American native is commonly used in both restoration and landscaping projects and is very drought tolerant but can do will in moist settings too.
Sun Exposure Full Sun to Part Shade
Water Needs Low (Drought Tolerant after established)
Soil Type Well-drained; thrives in Sand, Loam, or Clay
Mature Height 2 to 3 feet
Deer Resistance High
Bloom Time July – October
Plant Spacing 2 – 3 feet
Color: In the spring and summer, the slender blades emerge in shades of blue-green. After the first frost, the entire plant transforms into shades of brown, copper, and deep crimson that will remain all winter.
Winter Interest: The stems are famously sturdy and remain upright even under the weight of light snow. In winter, the seed heads turn into fluffy, white tufts.
Compact "Columnar" Habit: Little Bluestem grows in neat, vertical clumps. Its upright nature makes it a perfect choice for formal borders, or as an accent in your landscape.
Extreme Hardiness: This grass thrives in poor soils, intense heat, and periods of significant drought once its deep root system is established.
Butterfly Larval Host: It is the primary host plant for several species of Skipper butterflies, providing essential food for their caterpillars.
Insects: Insects that feed on Little Bluestem include grasshoppers, leafhoppers, Prairie Walking Sticks, beetles and spittlebugs.
Winter Food Source: The high-protein seeds are a critical food resource for small songbirds throughout the winter.
Protective Cover: The dense, bunch-forming base of the plant provides vital nesting sites for queen bumble bees and shelter for ground-dwelling wildlife.
Pro-Tip: Resist the urge to cut it back in the fall! Leaving the stalks standing until early spring not only provides critical habitat for overwintering pollinators but also ensures you get to enjoy that stunning coppery-red color against the winter snow.
This compact cool-season bunchgrass is one of the earliest to bloom, and thrives in tough, dry spots making it ideal for structured garden borders or rock gardens.
Sun Exposure Full Sun
Water Needs Low (Drought Tolerant after established, thrives in dry soil)
Soil Type Loam, Sand, Gravelly, or Well-drained Poor Soils
Mature Height 2 feet
Deer Resistance High
Bloom Time June – July
Plant Spacing 10 – 12 inches
Early Season Interest: While many native grasses don't peak until autumn, June Grass reaches its full glory in early summer. It produces dense, plumes of silvery-green seed heads that transition to tan by mid summer. Foliage is an attractive green-gray.
Compact & Tidy: Reaching only about 1 to 2 feet in height, it is an excellent "front-of-the-border" plant. It stays in a neat, upright clump and does not flop, making it perfect for smaller suburban landscapes.
Drought Powerhouse: This is one of the most drought-tolerant native grasses available. Once established, it requires almost no supplemental watering, even in the heat of mid-summer.
Pollinator Support: It serves as a larval host plant for several species of Skipper butterflies.
Songbird Food: The small, dense seeds are a valuable food source for finches, sparrows and other small songbirds in the late spring-summer months.
Pro Tip: For visual impact, plant June Grass in "drifts" or groups of 3–5. The silver-green tint of the blades creates a beautiful contrast when paired with dark-leafed plants or vibrant wildflowers like Coneflowers and Black-eyed Susans.
Widely considered the most beautiful of all native short grasses, it is prized for its fine, hair-like texture and its incredibly tidy, fountain-like habit.
Sun Exposure Full Sun to Part Shade
Water Needs Low to Medium (Drought Tolerant after established)
Soil Type Adaptable; thrives in hot, well-drained Loam, Sand, or Clay
Mature Height 2 feet
Deer Resistance High
Bloom Time August – October
Plant Spacing 2 – 3 feet
Prairie Dropseed is the "slow and steady" winner of the garden, forming a perfect, emerald-green mound that looks intentional and groomed without any pruning.
Unique Fragrance: In late summer, the airy flower panicles emerge, carrying a distinct and pleasant scent that many describe assmelling of cilantro or coriander.
Fountain Shape: The exceptionally fine foliage arches gracefully downward, creating a soft, rounded mound.
Color: As the temperatures drop, the green leaves shift into a honey yellow, which eventually fades to a tan that persists through the winter.
Tough as Nails: Despite its delicate appearance, this grass is incredibly long-lived and rugged. It is remarkably drought-tolerant once established and excels in sunny, hot, dry conditions.
Seed source: As the name "Dropseed" suggests, the plant produces small, nutritious seeds that "drop" to the ground in fall, providing a critical late-season food for seed eating birds.
Butterfly Host: It is a larval host for several species of Skipper butterflies.
Essential Cover: Because it grows in dense, permanent mounds, it provides perfect nesting sites for native bees and protective winter cover for small beneficial insects.
Pro-Tip: Prairie Dropseed is a slow grower, often taking 3 years to reach its full size, but it is well worth the wait. Also, because of its dense, mounding habit and long lifespan (often living for decades), it can be used as weed-suppressing groundcover.
This low-growing native grass is a true showstopper when it reaches peak bloom. It’s seed heads bloom in mid-summer producing a haze of light to bright purple flowers that hover over the foliage like a fine, colorful mist.
Purple Love Grass is the perfect solution for those "difficult" sunny spots. It thrives in lean, sandy, or rocky soils where other plants might struggle, making it an excellent choice for rock gardens, sandy coastal slopes, or as a groundcover along a driveway.
Sun Exposure Full Sun (preferred) to Partial Shade
Water Needs Low; very drought-tolerant once established.
Soil Type Sand, gravelly, or well-drained poor soils
Mature Height 1 – 2 feet
Deer Resistance High
Bloom Time July - August
Plant Spacing 1 - 2 feet
Low Profile, High Impact: It stays short and tidy for most of the year, then explodes into a haze of color just as other plants are starting to fade.
Black Walnut and salt tolerant: One of the few ornamental grasses that can handle road salt, making it more ideal for planting near sidewalks and streets.
Late-Season Nectar: The delicate flowers provide a food source for small native bees and beneficial insects during the heat of late summer.
Butterfly Host: This grass serves as a vital larval host for the Zabulon Skipper.
Pro Tip: For the most dramatic effect, plant Purple Love Grass in large drifts.
This mid-sized, warm-season grass is easily recognized by its unique and charming seed heads, which hang neatly from just one side of the stem.
Sun Exposure Full Sun to Part Shade
Water Needs Low (Very Drought Tolerant)
Soil Type Adaptable; thrives in Sand, Loam, medium Clay or gravely soil
Mature Height 2 feet
Deer Resistance High
Bloom Time August – September
Plant Spacing 10 – 24 inches
Side-Oats Grama is the perfect "neighbor-friendly" native—it stays at a manageable height and doesn't get aggressive.
Unique "One-Sided" Blooms: In mid-summer, the plant produces tall stalks adorned with tiny, oat-like seeds that all hang from one side. In bloom, these seeds feature tiny, bright red-to-purple anthers that give the plant a subtle color. This plant holds it shape well into the winter months. The foliage turns from green-blue foliage to shades of gold.
Compact and Versatile: Reaching only 2 feet in height, it is an ideal choice for the middle of a garden border. It won't tower over your wildflowers but provides enough structure to keep the garden looking organized.
Extremely Adaptable: It is highly drought-tolerant and can thrive in almost any soil condition, from dry sand to heavy clay.
It is a vital larval host plant for at least 5 species of Skipper butterflies, including the Dotted Skipper and the Leonard’s Skipper.
The seeds are a favorite food source for various songbirds that forage on the ground.
Pro-Tip: Side-oats Grama’s clumping tendency and moderate height pair well with shorter wildflowers like Prairie Smoke or Purple Coneflower.
A plant steeped in history and cherished for its scent, Sweet Grass is one of the most beloved native grasses in North America. Its name comes from the sweet, vanilla-like fragrance produced by the coumarin in its leaves, which becomes especially potent when the grass is dried or crushed. Many North American indigenous cultures burn Sweet Grass in ceremonies to invite the presence of good spirits.
Sun Exposure Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Needs High; prefers consistently moist to wet soil.
Soil Type rich Muck, moist Clay, Loam or Sandy soils; thrives near water sources.
Mature Height 1 – 2 feet
Deer Resistance High
Bloom Time May – July
Plant Spacing 1 – 2 feet (Spreads to fill gaps).
Signature Scent: Unlike most grasses, Sweet Grass produces a sweet aroma when rubbing the leaves.
Wet Ground Solution: It is a perfect choice for the edges of ponds, low-lying areas of the yard, or rain gardens.
Aggressive spreader: Can be difficult to eliminate if it spreads to unwanted areas. Spreads by rhizomes. Pick a planting site with this in mind.
Early Season Growth: As a cool-season grass, it provides early green-up and cover for wildlife emerging in the spring.
Habitat: While wind-pollinated, the dense mats provide essential shelter for ground-nesting beneficial insects.
Pro Tip: To harvest for scent, wait until the blades are long and vibrant in mid-summer. Cut the grass, let it wilt slightly, and then braid it while it is still flexible. As it dries, the braid will hold its sweet, vanilla-like fragrance for months!