Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Grass
Grass
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
Southwestern United States
Types
Sorghastrum nutans
Muhlenbergia rigens, Muhlenbergia emersleyi
Number of Varieties
35
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Grassland, low mountains, Semi desert, Woodlands
Sandy areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-97-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9 - 1
12 - 1
Sunset Zone
7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm30.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
45.70 cm60.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
-
-
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green, Blue Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Blue Green, Burgundy, Copper
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Tan
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Linear
Long linear and narrow
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
Requires watering in the growing season, Water occasionally
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
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Requires very little pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
No fertilizers needed
fertilize in spring
Pests and Diseases
Insects
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought and Salt
Drought, Heat Tolerance
Flowers
Showy
Showy
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
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Birds, Deers, Insects
Allergy
Skin irritation
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Beautification, Ground Cover, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Food for animals, Nesting sites for birds, Shelter for wildlife
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
Leaves, Root
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant
Can be made into a herbal tea, Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Dried Flower/Everlasting, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Wildflower
Feature Plant, Foundation, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Wildflower
Botanical Name
SORGHASTRUM nutans
MUHLENBERGIA rigens
Common Name
Indian Grass
Deer Grass
In Hindi
भारतीय घास
हिरण घास
In German
Indian Grass
Deer Grass
In French
Herbe indienne
cerfs Herbe
In Spanish
Hierba india
Ciervo Hierba
In Greek
Ινδικό Grass
ελάφια Grass
In Portuguese
grama indianas
cervos grama
In Polish
Indyjski Trawa
Deer Trawa
In Latin
Indian Grass
deer Grass
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Anthophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Poales
Poales
Family
Poaceae
Poaceae
Genus
Sorghastrum
Muhlenbergia
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
Chloridoideae
Number of Species
940
1
27800
👆🏻