Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) is a fine-textured, clump-forming native grass that brings year-round beauty and ecological benefits to any landscape. Its delicate, arching green blades provide shelter and nesting material for birds, while its late summer flower plumes release a subtle, sweet fragrance. As fall approaches, its foliage transforms into stunning shades of gold, bronze, and orange, offering seasonal interest well into winter.

This low-maintenance, drought-tolerant grass thrives in full sun and is perfect for prairie plantings, native meadows, borders, and erosion control. Its deep root system helps stabilize soil and improve soil health, making it an excellent choice for sustainable landscapes.

Why Grow Prairie Dropseed?

• Wildlife-Friendly: Provides shelter for birds, nesting material, and seeds for songbirds.
• Pollinator Support: Attracts butterflies, moths, and beneficial insects.
• Drought-Tolerant & Low-Maintenance: Thrives in dry, rocky, or sandy soils with minimal water once established.
• Four-Season Interest: Offers lush green foliage in summer, golden fall color, and winter texture.
• Erosion Control & Soil Health: Deep roots stabilize slopes and improve soil structure.
• Deer & Rabbit Resistant: Naturally unappealing to browsing wildlife, ensuring long-lasting beauty.
• Pollinator-Safe: Grown non-GMO and free of harmful neonicotinoids, promoting a healthy ecosystem for pollinators and wildlife.

Available in sets of three, six, or 12 plants to create a lush, native grass habitat in your garden.

Planting Tips:

1. Location: Prefers full sun and well-drained, sandy, or loamy soils. Ideal for prairies, meadows, borders, and naturalized plantings.
2. Watering: Water regularly during the first growing season to establish strong roots. Once established, requires little to no supplemental watering.
3. Maintenance: Minimal care required. There's no need to deadhead the flowers, as allowing them to go to seed provides a valuable food source for birds. Leaving the stems standing in the fall offers overwintering sites for beneficial insects. If desired, cut back the stems in late spring after pollinators have emerged. 

For more information on planting, view our How to Plant Your Native Plants guide and other planting tips in the Garden for Wildlife Learning Center. 

Add prairie dropseed to your landscape and enjoy elegant movement, rich seasonal color, and a thriving habitat for birds and pollinators!

Shipping Range:

• IA
• IL
• IN
• MI
• MN
• MO
• WI

Zip Code Verification: Our plants are grown regionally to thrive where you live and help local wildlife. Confirm availability for your area using the zip code checker near the add to cart button above.

Returns: Due to the nature of our products, we are unable to offer order cancellations, returns or exchanges. In order to guarantee your satisfaction, all plants are covered by our 365-Day Plant Guarantee.

*To ensure your plants arrive healthy, we may delay shipments to certain areas during times of extreme temperatures, natural disasters, or other conditions that will impact the plants during transit

Sizing: At the time of shipment, our plants have a developed root mass and emerging foliage around 4-8” high.

Recommended container sizes (in width) for container planting:

• 24 In
• 36 In
• 48 In