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Indian grass
Habit (mature) · Joshua Mayer / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
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Indian grass
Sorghastrum nutans
A tall warm-season bunchgrass that was once dominant across the North American tallgrass prairie — Indian grass produces stiff vertical flowering stems topped with feathery light-brown panicles highlighted by yellow stamens August through October, then golden-orange fall foliage. Wind-pollinated; seeds feed songbirds and small mammals. Drought-tolerant, erosion-resistant, fire-adapted; among the most resilient native grasses for prairie restoration and meadow plantings.
Native: 43 US states + 5 CA provinces
Review: Source-backed
Climate fit: broad (83/100)
Structure
Focal point
Filler
Light
Full sun
Water
Moderate water
Mature size
60-84" tall · 24" apart
Hardy in zones
4a-9b
very cold to frosty winters
Summer heat range
Cool-Hot
cool to hot summers Interim Plotwright tier until the plant AHS range is authored.
Native in Illinois
Yes
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A documented larval host for the Skipper butterflies — caterpillars feed on its foliage before becoming the next generation.
Wildlife relationships
Cold hardiness
Now
Zone 6b
USDA
Chicago, IL · 1991-2020 average annual coldest day
Source: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (1991-2020 climatology) via ArcGIS FeatureServer
Well-suited
2050
Zone 7b
Plotwright
Your zone + climate-model shift · SSP3-7.0 (regional rivalry)
Well-suited
In plain terms: cold winters — coldest nights typically around -3°F.
Well-suited today and still thriving in 2050.
Heat tolerance
Loading current AHS heat-zone and plant heat-fit data at your coordinates…
Sources & citations
Cite this page
For lesson plans, articles, or research that uses this page. To cite a single upstream fact instead, use its specific source listed below.
Plotwright. (2026, May 17). Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans). Retrieved 2026, June 5, from https://plotwright.garden/plants/indian-grass
Sources for every fact
Every fact on this page traces to a source. 18 fields cited18 source-backed.
NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
University extension service
Backs 17 fields
Identity
Summary
Plant type
Light
Moisture
Hardiness
Heat zone
Size
Spacing
Habit
Design roles
Seasonal interest
Growth stages
Lifecycle
Regional guidance
Success tips
Designer notes
Wikimedia Commons
Photo · CC BY-SA 2.0
Backs 1 field
Image
Community photos
The photos above are our reviewed reference set, curated for accuracy.
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