Sporobolus heterolepis, 1 pint pot

A favorite of garden designers, native Prairie Dropseed is equally valuable massed or as an accent plant thanks to its tidy mounds of 15" blades. This Ornamental Grass reaches its full height of 2-3' in autumn when crowned with rust-colored airy plumes against burnished gold foliage. An interesting perk is its coriander scent.

Of the roughly 160 annual and perennial Sporobolus species found growing worldwide, more than 25 are native to North America. The commonly grown Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) is a fine-textured, upright, mounding Grass that begins growing in June and is at its best during the dog days of summer. It produces delicate panicles of flowers that, in late summer, ripen to tiny seeds which help sustain a variety of overwintering songbirds and other wildlife. Sporobolus is adaptable to a range of environmental conditions, though it particularly thrives in full sun and well-drained soils and is drought-tolerant and deer-resistant. In gardens and designed landscapes, whether naturalistic or formal, Prairie Dropseed brings movement and textural contrast. In a mass planting, the sheer beauty of its undulating mounded forms, airy flowers, and dancing seed panicles are breathtakingly beautiful. Sporobolus is not considered invasive, making it a responsible choice for naturalistic designs and restoration projects. For gardeners, the ecological value, ease of care, and aesthetic qualities make it highly desirable.

For more information on Sporobolus, click Growing Guide.

We want our customers to receive strong, healthy plants that are ready to thrive in their gardens and homes. Here's what we'd like you to know about our shipping practices.

Delivery Timing

We aim to deliver your plants at as close to the proper time for planting in your area as possible. To do so, we consider the USDA Hardiness Zone to which we're shipping, current and forecasted weather at the destination and along the shipping route, and whether your plants are ready for transplant.

In spring, we ship first to the warmest regions and move north as planting conditions improve. For fall deliveries, we begin with the coolest regions and work south. We frequently adjust shipping schedules when extreme weather could put plants at risk while in transit or soon after arrival.

Because different plants reach readiness at different rates and are weather-sensitive in varying degree, a single order may be delivered via multiple shipments. Plants sold as part of a collection, or that are otherwise meant to arrive together, will be shipped together. Please contact our customer service team with two weeks' advance notice if you anticipate being away at the expected time of delivery. 

Tracking information for each package is delivered via email. 

Plant & Container Sizes

We deliver plants in various sizes and stages of growth, and the product detail pages of our website indicate the form and/or pot size in which the plant will be delivered. Pot sizes range from 1 pint to 1 gallon and larger. Many perennials, roses, shrubs and vines are delivered bareroot - that is, not in a container at all. Bulbs and tubers are generally delivered bareroot and fully dormant. We choose container sizes and delivery methods based on how each plant grows best, how we can minimize transplant shock, and how to minimize unnecessary bulk/weight in shipment. 

Caring for Your Plants Upon Arrival

It is important to acclimate greenhouse-grown plants to life outdoors. All plant shipments include simple instructions for handling your plants upon arrival. Further how-to information, including planting instructions, is available on each plant's product page.

Latin Name Pronunciation: spore-ob' uh-lus

Of approximately 160 annual and perennial species of Sporobolus growing worldwide, more than 25 are North American natives. They occupy habitat niches from ledges, woodland clearings, semi-deserts to floodplains over a wide geographical range. These fine-textured, deep-rooted, drought-resistant, mounding grasses begin growing in June and are at their best during the dog days of summer. Their adaptability, beauty, deer-resistance, ecological importance and contribution to biodiversity make Sporobolus invaluable low-maintenance plants.

Growing Sporobolus

Light: Sun

Watering: Low water needs; tolerates periods of drought well. Water deeply when planting and supplement as needed to establish.

Fertilizer: Do not fertilize. Grows well in low-fertility soil and excess nutrients can be detrimental. Mulch with previous season’s growth, sterile straw, or gravel, if possible. If mulching with wood products, apply sparingly and do not let it pile up around the crown.

Soil: Tolerates a wide range of soils including dry ones; best in moist, naturally fertile, well-drained soil.

Pests/Diseases: Generally pest- and disease-free, although voles may feed on crown. Excess moisture-retaining wood product mulch can foster fungal diseases.

Dividing/Transplanting:  Dense mature clumps are difficult to divide and don’t need to be. Transplanting is best done in spring when plants are actively growing but may be done during dormancy.

End-of-Season Care:  None required. Just let Sporobolus be its beautiful, dormant self in fall through winter. Its low foliage drapes over the ground in winter, essentially self-mulching, and new foliage pierces through the old in spring. Cut back in spring if you wish.

At White Flower Farm, we stand firmly behind every product we sell and are proud to offer a money-back guarantee on each and every item offered on our website and at our store in Connecticut. Some modest terms and conditions apply, click here for details.

Should you have any questions about how our guarantee applies to a particular product or circumstance, our customer service team will be happy to help – please contact us at (800) 411-6159 or [email protected].