Big bluestem is a native Michigan grass that grows well during summer months in well-drained loam soil. The blue-green grass grows best in upland areas, but can also survive in wet areas. It grows three to six feet high and can provide food and cover for native wildlife. In fall, big bluestem grass turns the color of straw.
Little bluestem grass grows well in dry soil, often preventing erosion on steep slopes. It grows two to three feet tall and withstands drought. Little bluestem grass resists invasion by alien species in meadows and often grows in clumps in dry areas. The blue-green color becomes reddish-brown during autumn months.
Indiangrass is a native Michigan grass that grows well in well-drained, sandy loam soil. It often grows with big bluestem grass in low lying prairies and on sandy hills and river banks. Indiangrass reaches three to five feet in height. Six to ten inch high yellow flower tops the blue-green leaves in September . Indiangrass provides hay for cattle, food and shelter for wildlife.
Switchgrass grows in many types of soil on high and low ground. The smooth, hard seed is easy to plant and the grass can quickly take over acres of land. It tolerates snow, herbicides and areas such as valleys with runoff water. The gray-green to dark-green grass grows four to eight feet high, becoming yellow-orange in September. Often used to provide winter food and shelter for wildlife, switchgrass produces a large amount of high-quality hay.
Wheatgrass is a cool season perennial grass that grows on rhizomes with a few deep root systems. The green to blue-gray grass grows quickly in dry, sandy or loamy soil, reaching one to three feet in height with seed spikes up to ten inches. Thickspike wheatgrass grows near the Great Lakes shorelines on sandy beaches and dunes. Its sod-forming abilities help it to control erosion, resist fire and prevent encroachment by other species. It tolerates cold, acidic soil and shade.