Growing Conditions: Full sun in dry to medium soil
Size: Height 3-6 ft, Spread 1-2 ft
Blooms: August to October
Landscape Use: Naturalized area, pollinator garden
Habitat Value: Provides habitat for overwintering insects, food for songbirds, and aids in soil stabilization. Sorghastrum nutans also serve as the host plant for various grasshopper species, including the admirable grasshopper (Syrbula admirabilis), the velvet-striped grasshopper (Eritettix simplex), and the pasture grasshopper (Melanoplus confusus), which in turn provide food to important song and game birds.
Pests & Diseases: None
Mature Seed Color: Brown
Collect seeds from September to October when seed heads are dry and fluffy. Run hand along inflorescence (called “hand-stripping”) and pull gently, gathering a handful of seeds. Place them in a paper bag.
Collection & Cleaning Tips: Ensure the seeds are free of insects and significant amounts of extra plant material. For grass seeds, it is not necessary to remove all the plant material surrounding seeds.
Store clean, dry seeds in a refrigerator (40°F) in a sealed glassine envelope.
Germination Requirements: These seeds can be sown anytime. These seeds have a hard outer coating. Scarify the seed, rubbing it gently with sand paper will speed up germination. They also need light to germinate so plant on the surface of moist soil mixed with sand.
