Prairie DropseedSporobolus heterolepis
A native, perennial, sod-forming, clump-forming, fine-textured, warm-season grass that is 2-3' tall. Prairie dropseed is well suited for roadside rehabilitation, prairie restoration, residential landscapes and perennial gardens. It attracts birds and provides winter interest.
USDA symbol: SPHE
General Information
| Plant Type | Grass |
|---|---|
| Height | 2 feet |
| Light Exposure | Sun, Part Sun |
| Soil Moisture | Medium |
| Bloom Color | White, Purple, Green, Brown |
Tolerances
| Flooding / Inundation Tolerance | Moderate |
|---|---|
| General Resilience | 5 |
| Salt Tolerance | Medium |
| Stress Tolerance | Drought Tolerant, Fire Tolerant, General Disturbance |
Pollinator Value: Medium
| Bloom Months | August to October |
|---|---|
| Larval Host of | Butterflies, Moths |
| Specific Pollinators Hosted | Anicla tenuescens, Dichagyris reliqua, Hesperia dacotae, Oarisma poweshiek |
| Pollinator Benefit | Stem Nesting |
Project Planning
| Project Type | Erosion Control, Rain Garden, Restoration, Shoreline Buffer, Upland Buffer |
|---|---|
| Coefficient of Conservatism | 9 |
| Herbivore Sensitivity | Medium |
| Lifespan | Perennial |
| Rate of Spread | Slow |
| Soil Stabilization | Deep |
| Vegetative Reproduction | Absent |
Range
| County | Anoka, Becker, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Chippewa, Clay, Cottonwood, Dakota, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nobles, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Redwood, Rice, Rock, Roseau, Sherburne, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Washington, Wilkin, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine |
|---|---|
| Ecoregion | Driftless Area, Lake Agassiz Plain, North Central Hardwood Forests, Northern Glaciated Plains, Northern Lakes and Forests, Northern Minnesota Wetlands, Western Cornbelt Plains |
| Approximate Eco Province | Eastern Broadleaf Forest, Laurentian Mixed Forest, Prairie Parkland, Tallgrass Aspen Parklands |