Prairie Dropseed
Sporobolus heterolepis ‘Tara’
We like to imagine the namesake of ‘Tara’ was just as tough yet graceful as the grass that bears her name. This dwarf selection of the ever-lovely Prairie Dropseed grows more upright than the species, rising elegantly in vase-shaped mounds and hoisting delicate and fragrant reddish flowers high above the foliage in late summer. The aroma of coriander floats on the breeze and as autumn arrives, colors change. Flowers mature to tan seeds, creating stunning drifts through the garden, while foliage burns to an orange-red with the cooling air. Winter arrives and the grass endures, adding bronzed structure beneath layers of flurries, and when spring comes again, ‘Tara’ emerges green from the dry soil to bring life to the garden once more.
Conditions: Full sun; dry to medium soil
Size: 1.5′ – 2′ tall, 1′ – 2′ wide
Zone: 3 – 9
Wildlife Value: Seeds provide winter food for birds
