{"product_id":"sporobolus-heterolepsis-prairie-dropseed","title":"Sporobolus heterolepsis (Prairie Dropseed)","description":"\u003cp\u003eWidely regarded as the most ornamental of the native prairie grasses, prairie dropseed is confirmed tolerant of juglone toxicity - a genuinely useful trait for siting near black walnut - while its fine-textured, snow-resistant foliage delivers year-round structural interest even as wild populations decline across much of its range.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecies Overview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSporobolus heterolepis, or prairie dropseed, is a fine-textured, clump-forming warm-season grass native primarily to the tallgrass and mixed-grass prairies of central North America, with scattered populations in the eastern United States and Canada. Long, narrow, arching leaves form attractive round tufts roughly 18 inches tall, with airy flower panicles rising to 30-36 inches from late July through mid-September, noted for a distinctive coriander-like fragrance.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eApplication\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOrnamental prairie and meadow restoration - widely considered the showiest native prairie grass\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlantings near black walnut and other juglone-producing trees\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRock garden, border, and lawn-alternative groundcover plantings\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFire-adapted prairie restoration - responds well to controlled burns\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrowing Conditions \/ Specification Data\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLight:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full Sun\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil\/Moisture Tolerance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Average moisture, dry to average, well-drained soils\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDrought Tolerance:\u003c\/strong\u003e High\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlood Tolerance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Low - A dry prairie grass, consistent with this species' already-confirmed habitat profile from earlier work.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Type:\u003c\/strong\u003e Graminoid\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMature Height:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1-2 ft.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall Color:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yellow, Orange, Red\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWetland Indicator Status:\u003c\/strong\u003e NI (No Indicator) - see flags\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNative Range:\u003c\/strong\u003e Northeast\/Mid-Atlantic (full list)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePollinator Value:\u003c\/strong\u003e None significant - wind-pollinated prairie bunchgrass, no meaningful nectar or pollen resource.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHydrology:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dry-Mesic\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRoot Depth:\u003c\/strong\u003e Deep (24-36 in.)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSalinity Tolerance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Low\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth Rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Slow (well-documented slow-establishing prairie bunchgrass)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDeer Resistance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes (Rarely Damaged)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eShade Tolerance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Intolerant\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth Habit:\u003c\/strong\u003e Clumping\/Mounding\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUSDA Hardiness Zones:\u003c\/strong\u003e 3-9\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eJuglone Tolerance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Tolerant\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlanting Guidance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIMPORTANT:\u003c\/strong\u003e populations are in decline across much of its range - planting this species supports its persistence. Slow to establish and can take 3-4 seasons to mature; typically thrives only in already-established prairie ecosystems and does not easily establish from seed early in restoration projects.\u003c\/li\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Pinelands Nursery","offers":[{"title":"#1 Container","offer_id":48941157351495,"sku":"SPO-HET #1SF","price":10.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0675\/1649\/7991\/files\/Sporobolusheterolepsis2.jpg?v=1790774443","url":"https:\/\/www.pinelandsnursery.com\/products\/sporobolus-heterolepsis-prairie-dropseed","provider":"Pinelands Nursery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}