Native Tall Grasses in Oklahoma

Big Bluestem

• Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) is the common name given this native Oklahoma grass due to its blue-green foliage and stalks. It is a clumping perennial grass that can reach up to 8 feet tall. It looks best when grown in moist soil, but is drought tolerant once established due to its deep root system. Big bluestem has attractive rust-colored seed heads from August to November. It attracts butterflies and provides food and shelter for more than 24 types of songbirds.

Giant Sandreed

• The giant sandreed grass (Calamovilfa gigantea) doesn't have showy seed heads, but it does have abundant stature. This native Oklahoma grass reaches a height of 6 to 12 feet. The natural habitat for giant sandreed grass is hillsides, slopes or sandy areas. It withstands dry soil conditions. Although the small flowers and seed heads are inconspicuous, the bloom time is June through October.

Sugarcane Plumegrass

• This native grass has both height and dramatic plumes. Sugarcane plumegrass (Saccharum giganteum) reaches a height of 6 to 10 feet with large flower heads that range in color from reddish-burgundy to orange-brown. The bloom time for sugarcane plumegrass, also known as giant plumegrass, is October. It prefers a moist soil and doesn't do well in drought conditions. This preference makes it an ideal grass to grow by ponds or streams.

Giant Dropseed

• Giant dropseed (Sporobolus giganteus Nash) is a large native grass that reaches 6 to 12 feet tall. This Oklahoma native has a natural habitat of prairies, plains and meadows. It has a low water requirement which enables it to survive periods of drought. The blooms on giant dropseed are not as showy as some giant grasses and look similar to straight seed stalks. The bloom time is August through October.