Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash (Indian grass), leaves
3.77185
digital color photograph
Born digital
Photographic image
2005 – 2012
Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash (Indian grass), ornamental grass, warm season perennial grass, was one of the dominant grasses of the tallgrass prairie which once covered large parts of the Midwest, typically growing 3-5' tall (less frequently to 6') and is noted for its upright form and blue-green foliage, forming upright clumps (to 2-3' tall) of slender blue-green leaves (to 1/2" wide and 2' long), foliage turns orange-yellow in fall and usually retains hints of color into the winter, stiff, vertical flowering stems topped with narrow feathery light brown flower panicles (to 12" long) highlighted with yellow stamens rise well above the foliage clump in late summer to 5-6' tall, panicles darken to bronze/chestnut brown in fall as they mature later fading to gray continuing to provide some interest well into winter
