Ornamental Grasses in Pennsylvania

Big Bluestem

• Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) is a warm season bunch grass also referred to as turkey foot because of the shape of its inflorescences. This grass grows to a mature height of 5 to 7 feet and commonly is found growing on riverbanks, moist meadows and roadsides across Pennsylvania. When grown in home gardens, this grass adapts well to a range of soil types and prefers areas of full sun. The stems of the grass remain rigid through the winter acting as shelter for wildlife when mass planted. Big bluestem has green or blue green foliage in summer that takes on copper and red hues from autumn to winter.

Indiangrass

• Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans) is a warm season, clump-forming grass and was among the dominant grasses of the original North American tall grass prairies. Indiangrass is found growing in moist and dry fields and on roadsides in the southern and central regions of Pennsylvania. The grass is not as prevalent in northern-most areas of the state. Indiangrass grows to a mature height of 4 to 6 feet in full sun and produces copper red flower spikes with yellow anthers in August. The flowers dry to a chestnut brown color in the fall and remain so throughout the winter. Indiangrass is low maintenance and is best trimmed back in late winter.

Switchgrass

• Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is a warm season prairie grass that ranges in size from 4 to 8 feet, depending on cultivar. The foliage color of switchgrass ranges from dark green to gray-blue, which changes to shades of golden yellow, often with wine-red streaks, during fall and winter. Switchgrass blooms with red, airy panicles during August and September. The majority of switchgrass varieties grow in the form of clumps, while a few tend to spread with short rhizomes. Switchgrass is popularly used in Pennsylvania for wildlife food and shelter, for erosion control and as pasture hay.