Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Grass
Tree
Origin
North America, United States, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Texas, Canada, Mexico
Northeastern United States, North-Central United States
Types
Sorghastrum nutans
Sugar Maple, Norway Maple, Red Maple
Number of Varieties
315
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Grassland, low mountains, Semi desert, Woodlands
bottomlands, Forests, Moist Soils
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-94-8
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9 - 1
8-3
Sunset Zone
7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm3,779.52 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
45.70 cm1,219.20 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
-
Yellow green, Chartreuse
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Green, Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green, Blue Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Blue Green, Burgundy, Copper
Yellow, Red, Orange
Leaf Color in Winter
Tan
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Linear
Toothed
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Early Spring, Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
-
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Requires regular watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Requires very little pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
No fertilizers needed
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Insects
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought and Salt
-
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Bees, Birds
Allergy
Skin irritation
Pollen
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
-
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Nesting sites for birds, Shadow Tree, Wildlife
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Tonic
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
Sap, Tree trunks
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant
Edible syrup, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Dried Flower/Everlasting, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Wildflower
Shade Trees, Street Trees
Botanical Name
SORGHASTRUM nutans
ACER nigrum
Common Name
Indian Grass
Black Maple
In Hindi
भारतीय घास
Black Maple Tree
In German
Indian Grass
Schwarz Ahorn
In French
Herbe indienne
Noir Érable
In Spanish
Hierba india
Negro del árbol de arce
In Greek
Ινδικό Grass
Μαύρο Maple Tree
In Portuguese
grama indianas
Árvore de bordo preto
In Polish
Indyjski Trawa
Czarny klon
In Latin
Indian Grass
White Acer ligno
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Poales
Sapindales
Family
Poaceae
Aceraceae
Genus
Sorghastrum
Acer
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
Areceae
Subfamily
-
Hippocastanoideae
Number of Species
910
1
27800
👆🏻