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PLANT BASE

Sporobolus heterolepis

Prairie dropseed

Height
Spread
Growth
habit
3-9
2-3'
2-3'
Form                           Lifecycle              Hardiness zone*
Clumping
Grass/Grass-Like
Perennial

APPEARANCE
Bloom time
Bloom color
August-October
Violet/ pinkish
Winter texture
USE FOR
Seasonal interest
ENVIRONMENT
Terminal clusters
Light
Water
Soil
Soil pH
Clay, Loam, Sand
Adaptable
Soil Preference
Dry, rocky or sandy soils
ENVIRONMENTAL TOLERANCE
Black walnut, Air pollution, Drought, Erosion, Shallow-rocky soil, Dry Soil, Foot traffic
HABITAT & NATIVE RANGE
Prairies, glades, open rocky woodlands
Eastern to central U.S. from New York to Georgia to Oklahoma, New Mexico and north to Montana
BROWSE TOLERANCE
Black walnut, Air pollution, Drought, Erosion, Shallow-rocky soil, Dry Soil, Foot traffic
Tolerance to browse by animals typically happens once plants are established. Young plants may still be quite susceptible.
SUGGESTED MAINTENANCE & COMMON PROBLEMS
Divide every 2-3 years, don't add thick mulch as will cause rot
COMPANION PLANTS
Lanceleaf coreopsis,Butterfly weed,Moss phlox,Purple lovegrass,Black eyed susan
COMPANION TREES & SHRUBS
NOTES
Slow growning, does not freely self-seed, does not tolerate shade

For more information, check out these fantastic sources! 

VIEWS:

Spring 2019

LAWN GONE NATIVE

An honors thesis by Zoe Roane-Hopkins

Thesis Advisor

Ken Tamminga

Honors Advisor

Larry Gorenflo

Schreyer Honors College

College of Arts & Architecture

Department of Landscape Architecture

THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY

LAST UPDATED  November 2022

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