Indian Grass

Other names

Wood Grass

Growth habit

Grass/Sedge

Native distribution

Native to the Finger Lakes Region, North America, E of Rockies

Cultivation

Dry to moist, but not wet. Adaptable to different soil types, but prefers calcareous soils.

Propagation

Store seeds dry. Cold-moist stratification for 30-60 days helpful, but not required. Sow at 70 degrees.

Location

Mundy Wildflower Garden, Peterson Oak Grove

Source of plant

North Creek Nurseries

Description

Coarse perennial to 2m. Stems clumped. Leaves linear to 60x1cm, scabrous, attenuate; sheaths glabrous, auricles erect; ligules membranous. Panicle terminal, narrow, compact, to 35cm, tinged yellow to brown; spikelets sessile, lanceolate, to 0.8cm, hirsute, awn to 1.5cm; lemmas hyaline; spikelet golden brown; anthers yellow. Frequently used in restoration seeding or plantings.

USDA Hardiness Zone

3

Special characteristics

One of the few native grasses that once dominated areas of prairie in New York State.

Status

L2|S5|G5