Botanical Name: Sorghastrum nutans 'Sioux Blue'
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Common Name: Indian Grass  
Plant photo of: Sorghastrum nutans 'Sioux Blue'
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Water Saving Tip:

Replace turf with groundcovers, trees, and shrubs. If you have areas where no one uses the grass, patches that do not grow well, or a turf area too small to water without runoff, consider replacing the turf with water-efficient landscaping.

  • Anatomy

  • Culture

  • Design

Plant Type

Perennial, Grass

 

Height Range

3-6', 6-12'

 

Flower Color

Red

 

Flower Season

Summer, Fall

 

Leaf Color

Blue Green, Grey Green

 

Bark Color

n/a

 

Fruit Color

n/a

 

Fruit Season

n/a

Sun

Full

 

Water

Low

 

Growth Rate

Moderate

 

Soil Type

Sandy, Clay, Loam, Rocky, Unparticular

 

Soil Condition

Average, Poor, Well-drained, Dry

 

Soil pH

Acid, Neutral, Basic

 

Adverse Factors

n/a

Design Styles

English Cottage, Meadow, Mediterranean, Ranch, Spanish, Native Garden

 

Accenting Features

Showy Flowers, Silhouette

 

Seasonal Interest

Winter, Summer, Fall

 

Location Uses

Background, Perennial Border, Shrub Border, Foundation, Walls / Fences

 

Special Uses

Cut Flowers, Erosion Control, Hedge, Screen, Mass Planting, Naturalizing, Small Spaces

 

Attracts Wildlife

n/a

Information by: Stephanie Duer
Photographer:

  • Description

  • Notes

Sioux Blue is an eye-catching, warm-season, clumping grass that grows about 5 to 6 feet tall (7 feet in flower) and 3 to 4 feet wide. Medium-wide blades are grey-blue and hold their color until the fall, when they turn a lovely yellow-orange. Plumes emerge July until frost, and are coppery-red. Native across much of North America, Quebec west to Dakotas, south to Arizona, Florida, & Mexico.
Grows best with full sun in most any soil as long as it is well drained. Extremely tolerant of cold. Provides erosion control, great dried flowers, and good for livestock. Needs regular watering until established, but then is drought tolerant. Over-watering can make it floppy. Cut back in late winter before new growth emerges; see Guides.