Overview

Sporobolus heterolepis is a bushy grass like in the genus Sporobolus, part of the Poaceae family, with deciduous foliage. It typically grows around 0.5-1 metres tall and 0.5-1 metres wide, reaching full size in around 2-5 years. Sporobolus heterolepis grows best in full sun, and tolerates most soils and any pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H7. It is drought resistant and low maintenance. Suggested uses include architectural, patio and container plants, city and courtyard gardens, cottage and informal garden, gravel garden, prairie planting, low maintenance, banks and slopes and flower borders and beds. It is native to Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan.

About

Sporobolus heterolepis, prairie dropseed, is a perennial grass-like plant that forms a rounded mound of foliage 0.5–1 metres high and wide. It is fully hardy (H7) and drought resistant, reaching its mature size in two to five years. Plant in full sun on well‑drained chalk, loam or sandy soils across an acid to alkaline pH range. Flowers appear from July to September.

Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Sporobolus heterolepis

About the genus

Sporobolus is a nearly cosmopolitan genus of plants in the grass family. The name Sporobolus means "seed-thrower", and is derived from Ancient Greek word σπόρος (spóros), meaning "seed", and the root of βάλλειν (bállein) "to throw", referring to the dispersion of seeds. Members of the genus are usually called dropseeds or sacaton grasses.

Wikipedia contributors, "Sporobolus", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Sporobolus

In the garden

Sporobolus heterolepis is a perennial grass native to Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan that forms a dense, rounded clump 0.5–1 metres tall and across. It establishes steadily, usually taking two to five years to reach its full dimensions, and flowers in mid to late summer between July and September. Give prairie dropseed a sunny, south- or west-facing site on well-drained soils such as chalk, loam or sand; it tolerates acid, neutral and alkaline conditions. The plant is rated H7 for UK hardiness, so it is fully hardy and can be grown in both exposed and sheltered situations. It is drought resistant and low maintenance once established, making it suitable for positions where regular watering is impractical. Use Sporobolus heterolepis for architectural accents and prairie-style groupings, in gravel gardens, on banks and slopes, in cottage and informal borders, or in containers for patios and courtyards. Its size and habit suit city and courtyard gardens as well as larger prairie plantings. Flowers are produced from July to September.

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Sporobolus

Sunlight

Full sun

Soil type

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Soil moisture

Well-drained

Aspect

South-facing, West-facing

Exposure

Exposed, Sheltered

UK hardiness

H7

Plant details

Sporobolus heterolepis size, habit and characteristics

Plant type

Grass Like

Habit

Bushy

Foliage

Deciduous

Height

0.5-1 metres

Spread

0.5-1 metres

Time to full height

2-5 years

Suggested uses

Architectural, Patio and container plants, City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Gravel garden, Prairie planting, Low Maintenance, Banks and slopes, Flower borders and beds

Native to

Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Sporobolus heterolepis

Propagation

Seed, Division

Pest resistance

Generally pest-free

Disease resistance

Generally disease-free

Frequently asked questions