'Gone With The Wind' Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus)
Perennial
- Wispy, airy flower panicles for the ultimate movement!
- Low maintenance, great for beginners.
- Native alternative to other ornamental grasses.
- Zones 3-9, sun, 3' tall x 2' wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Whether used as a single specimen or a whimsical groundcover, prairie dropseed boasts its cloudy plume of tiny flower heads throughout the garden. 'Gone With The Wind' is shorter than the species, making for a perfect wispy border or ornamental accent to the landscape. Able to tolerate some drought at maturity, beginner gardeners can grow this with ease.
Details
Common name: Prairie Dropseed, Ornamental Grass
Zone: 3-9
Sun exposure: Sun (> 6 hours sun)
Height x width: 3’ X 2’
Flower color: Tan
Foliage color: Green
Season of interest: Year-round
Bloom time: Late Summer
Features: Native, specimen, fall color, drought tolerant, best for beginners
Uses: Border, Cottage gardening, background, foundation planting, massing, hedge, ornamental
How to Grow
Light: Does well in full sun.
Water: Dry to medium — Water regularly until established.
Spacing: 2-3'
Fertilizing: Spring application of a timed release, or organic fertilizer
Winterizing: No special care needed. Can cut back or leave foliage standing for winter interest.
Maintenance & pruning: Cut back in late winter or early spring before new growth begins.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.
