If you want to add height, and a sense of history to your landscape, look no further than Big Bluestem. Often called the "King of Native Grasses," this iconic plant was once the dominant species of the tallgrass prairie.

Plant Profile

• Sun Exposure Full Sun to Part Shade

• Water Needs Low to Medium (Drought Tolerant after established)

• Soil Type Adaptable; can do well in Muck, Clay, Loam or Sand

• Mature Height 5 to 8 feet

• Deer Resistance High

• Bloom Time June – September

• Plant Spacing 2 – 3 feet

Plant Characteristics

• "Turkey Foot" Seed Heads: In late summer, the grass produces distinct three-pronged flower spikes that resemble a turkey's foot. These spikes emerge in shades of purplish-red, adding a unique texture to your planting.

• Color: The stems often have a blue-green hue in the spring and summer. As autumn arrives, the plant shifts into shades of copper, reddish-bronze or purple tones.

• Deep-Rooted: With roots that can reach up to 10 feet deep, Big Bluestem is incredibly drought-tolerant and plays a massive role in soil health.

• Privacy & Screening: Reaching heights of 7 feet, it serves as a fantastic, eco-friendly living fence or a backdrop for shorter flowering perennials.

Wildlife benefits

• Pollinator Support: It serves as a critical larval host plant for several butterfly species, including the Delaware Skipper, Dusted Skipper, Arogos Skipper and Cobweb Skipper.

• Songbirds: In the fall and winter, the protein-rich seeds provide a feast for songbirds like Juncos, Sparrows, and Finches. The sturdy, tall stems also offer excellent nesting material and winter cover.

• Essential Shelter: The dense, upright clumps provide a safe "nursery" and overwintering habitat for beneficial insects (like ladybugs and native bees) and small mammals during the coldest months.

Pro Tip: Because Big Bluestem is a tall "warm-season" grass, it does most of its growing in the heat of mid-summer. Plant it at the back of your garden beds so it can rise up behind your early-blooming wildflowers as they begin to fade. Big Bluestem can be an aggressive spreader, so it is not recommended for small spaces.

Best known for its heavy, arched seed heads that resemble cultivated rye or wheat, this cool-season bunchgrass adds a graceful "nodding" movement to any landscape.

Plant Profile

• Sun Exposure Full Sun to Part Shade

• Water Needs Medium-Low (Very Adaptable)

• Soil Type Versatile; thrives in Sand, Loam, or Clay

• Mature Height 4 to 5 feet

• Deer Resistance Moderate - High

• Bloom Time July – October

• Plant Spacing 2 – 3 feet

Plant Characteristics

Canada Wild Rye is prized for its rapid growth and its ability to provide beauty even in the very first year of planting.

• Distinctive Seed Heads: By mid-summer, the plant produces large, bristly spikes that curve downward under their own weight and creates a "nodding" movement to the grasses. The seed heads remain intact well into the winter, turning from green into a soft-tan.

• Fast Establisher: Unlike some native grasses that take years to mature, Canada Wild Rye grows quickly. It is often used as a "nurse grass" to stabilize soil while slower perennials get established.

• Versatile & Adaptable: It is remarkably unfussy about soil, thriving in everything from sandy loams to heavy clay, and can handle both moist and dry conditions.

Wildlife Benefits

• Larval Host: It serves as a host plant for many Skipper butterflies and various species of moths.

• Winter Bird Buffet: The seeds are a favorite for wild turkeys, sparrows and various songbirds during the winter months.

• Superior Cover: The dense, clump-forming foliage provides excellent nesting habitat for ground-nesting birds and protection for small wildlife.

Pro Tip: Canada Wild Rye is a relatively short-lived perennial (usually 3–5 years), but it gracefully self-seeds. Allow the seed heads to drop in autumn to ensure a beautiful, self-sustaining stand for years to come.

One of the "Big Four" species of the tallgrass prairie, this native perennial is known for it’s seed heads that turn golden-yellow to bronze in the fall.

Plant Profile

• Sun Exposure Full Sun to Part Shade

• Water Needs Low to Medium

• Soil Type Adaptable; Sand, Loam, or Clay

• Mature Height 5 to 6 feet

• Deer Resistance High

• Bloom Time August – September

• Plant Spacing 2 – 3 feet

Plant Characteristics

• Color: Clusters of bronze colored seed with golden stems. It is one of the first warm season grasses to form seeds.

• Erosion Control & Privacy: Thanks to its sturdy, deep root system and tall stature, it works beautifully as a natural screen or to help stabilize soil on slopes and larger properties.

• Low Maintenance: Highly adaptable and resilient, it thrives in a variety of conditions once established, requiring very little attention from the gardener.

Wildlife Benefits

• Pollinator Host: It is a vital larval host plant for several butterfly species, including the Pepper and Salt Skipper and the Ottoe Skipper.

• Bird Habitat: The nutrient-rich seeds are a primary food source for songbirds throughout the fall, while the tall, stiff stems provide excellent nesting material and cover for ground-dwelling birds.

• Beneficial Shelter: The base of the plant offers protected overwintering sites for native bees and other helpful insects.

Pro-Tip: Indian Grass can be an aggressive grower that spreads in two ways: through its heavy seed drop in the fall and via short underground stems called rhizomes, so it is usually not recommended for small landscapes.

• To control the seeds: Simply cut back the feathery plumes in late autumn before they shatter.

• To control the roots: If you are planting in a smaller garden bed, you can "trench" around the base of the plant once a year with a sharp spade to sever the rhizomes and keep the clump from expanding into its neighbors. This makes it a great choice for both expansive meadows and managed borders!

This is a high-performance plant for "tough" areas. Its vigorous, spreading root system makes it an unmatched choice for controlling erosion on steep banks or stabilizing soil along shorelines and drainage ditches. It is also a good choice for combatting invasive Reed Canary Grass by a water’s edge. This native grass is known for its long, arching blades that gracefully weep toward the ground, shimmering with a distinct golden hue in the autumn.

Plant Profile

• Sun Exposure Full Sun (preferred) - Partial Shade

• Water Needs Moderate to High; thrives in wet to moist conditions.

• Soil Type Adaptable; prefers muck, clay, wet loam or sand.

• Mature Height 6 – 8 feet

• Deer Resistance High

• Bloom Time July – September

• Plant Spacing 2 – 3 feet (Allow plenty of room to spread).

Plant Characteristics

• Natural Erosion Control: Its deep, rhizomatous roots are excellent for stabilizing shifting soil or eroding banks around ponds or streambanks in full sun.

• Habitat: wet prairies, prairie swales, marshes and swaps.

• Color: The foliage transitions from green to bright gold as the temperatures drop

Wildlife Benefits

• Crucial Cover and nesting habitat: The dense, tall thickets provide essential nesting sites and thermal cover for marsh birds, waterfowl, and small mammals.

• Insect and moths: insects and the larvae of several moths are specialist feeders of Cord Grass. Species include the Four-lined Borer Moth, Torticid Moth and Many-Lined Cordgrass moth.

• Food source: Seed heads and rootstocks are eaten by Black Ducks, Mallards, Canada Geese and Muskrats.

Pro Tip: Prairie Cord Grass is a vigorous spreader. While it is perfect for large areas or restoration projects, it may be too assertive for a small, tidy perennial border. For best results, plant it in areas where it has plenty of room to roam or where its root system can be utilized for soil stabilization.

A tall, graceful native perennial, this grass is prized for its shimmering, airy plumes that emerge in late summer. The flower heads are a deep, reddish-purple and possess a unique, slightly oily texture that catches the light, earning it the nickname "Greasy Grass." Purpletop is a bunch-forming grass that is exceptionally adaptable, making it a perfect choice for naturalized meadows, woodland edges, or as a textured backdrop in a sunny perennial bed.

Plant Profile

• Sun Exposure Full Sun to Partial Shade

• Water Needs Low to Moderate; very drought-tolerant once settled.

• Soil Type Adaptable; thrives in poor, rocky, or sandy soils.

• Mature Height 4 – 5 feet

• Deer Resistance Moderate

• Bloom Time August – October

• Plant Spacing 18 – 24 inches

Plant Characteristics

• Color: When planted in groups, it puts a stunning reddish-purple top onto meadows and fields from late summer to early fall.

• Tough as Nails: Highly resistant to heat, humidity, and performs exceptionally well in "lean" soil where other plants fail. It is tolerant of road salt so can frequently be found in ditches.

Wildlife Benefits

• Butterfly Host: It serves as a vital larval host for several species of butterflies, including the Crossline Skipper, Common Wood Nymph, and the Little Glassywing.

• Winter Forage: The seeds are highly nutritious and are a favorite for songbirds and upland game birds during the colder months.

  Pro Tip: For the best visual impact, plant Purpletop Grass in sweeping drifts where its purple "haze" can be appreciated from a distance.

If you have a site with challenging, sandy soil where other plants struggle to take hold, Prairie Sand Reed is your solution. This tall, warm-season native grass is the ultimate "stabilizer," known for its massive root system and its ability to thrive in the most well-drained, arid conditions.

Plant Profile

• Sun Exposure Full Sun to Part Shade

• Water Needs Very Low (Drought Tolerant once established)

• Soil Type Sand, Loam, or Rocky; excels in poor soils

• Mature Height 6 feet

• Deer Resistance High

• Bloom Time July – September

• Plant Spacing 18 – 36 inches

Plant Characteristics

• Superior Erosion Control: This grass has an extensive network of deep roots and underground rhizomes. It is great for stabilizing sandy slopes, dunes, or any area prone to shifting soil.

• Color: It features wide, light-green leaves that curve gracefully during the summer. In autumn, the foliage transitions to a pale gold or straw yellow.

• Sun-Loving and Drought-tolerant: Native to the Great Plains and sand dunes, this plant is virtually unbothered by intense summer heat or prolonged dry spells. It is one of the most drought-tolerant grasses available.

Wildlife Benefits

• Birds: The large, sturdy stalks provide excellent nesting sites and cover for songbirds, while the seeds offer a valuable food source in late fall.

• Host Plant: It serves as a larval host for various species of Skipper butterflies, supporting the local pollinator lifecycle.

• Winter Shelter: Because it remains upright through most of the winter, it provides vital windbreaks and protection for small wildlife during harsh weather.

Pro-Tip: Unlike "clump-forming" grasses that stay in a neat ball (like Prairie Dropseed), Prairie Sand Reed is a rhizomatous grass, meaning it spreads underground to create a solid mat. This makes it your best friend for steep, sandy hillsides or "problem areas" where soil washes away during rain.

Switchgrass is celebrated for its sturdy upright habit, seasonal color, and incredible ability to thrive in almost any environment—from dry uplands to damp shoreline edges.

Plant Profile

• Sun Exposure Full Sun to Part Shade

• Water Needs Adaptable; Low to High

• Soil Type Adaptable; thrives in Clay, Loam, Sand, or Muck

• Mature Height 4 - 5 feet

• Deer Resistance High

• Bloom Time July – September

• Plant Spacing 2 – 4 feet

Plant Characteristics

• Unlike many plants that flop over in the rain or snow, Switchgrass stays remarkably upright. Its stiff, columnar stems provide a strong vertical element in the garden through all four seasons providing winter cover for land birds and small mammals.

• Color: In late summer to fall, the plant is topped with airy, purple cloud-like finely textured flower panicles. The foliage typically starts as a medium green and in autumn, the plant transforms into a golden-yellow, eventually fading to a tan.

• Resilience: Switchgrass is famous for its deep roots. It is exceptionally drought-tolerant once established, yet it is one of the few native grasses that can also handle "wet feet" and occasional flooding.

• Prolific self-seeder: Use with caution in very small landscapes.

Wildlife Benefits

• Winter Cover: Because it stays standing during heavy snow, it provides essential cover and protection for ground-nesting birds, rabbits, and beneficial insects.

• Songbirds: The abundant, tiny seeds produced in the airy panicles are a favorite winter food source for sparrows, juncos, and goldfinches.

• Pollinator Support: It serves as a larval host for several species of Skipper butterflies.

Pro-Tip: Resist the urge to cut your Switchgrass back in late fall or early winter. Switchgrass provides is a nesting site for bees and cover for birds. Wait until late March or early April to cut the old stems back. You want to cut them down to about 4–6 inches from the ground just before the new green shoots start to emerge from the base.