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
North America, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Canada
Types
Sorghastrum nutans
-
Number of Varieties
320
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Grassland, low mountains, Semi desert, Woodlands
Woodland Garden Canopy
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-93-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9 - 1
10-1
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
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm1,830.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
45.70 cm8.50 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
-
Tan, Sandy Brown
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Green, Sandy Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green, Blue Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Blue Green, Burgundy, Copper
Yellow, Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Tan
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Linear
oblong or obovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Summer, Fall, Winter
-
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Average
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
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Average
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
Any balanced general purpose fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Insects
Blackspot mold
Plant Tolerance
Drought and Salt
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
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
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Beetles, Birds
Allergy
Skin irritation
Miscarriage, Rash
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
-
Beauty Benefits
-
Beautiful Skin, Heals Damaged Hair, Strong, beautiful hair
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Demulcent, Diuretic, Expectorant, Nutritive
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
Fruits, Inner Bark, Leaves
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant
Chewed as a thirst quencher, Tea-like beverage can be brewed, Used as a thickener in soups, Used to make a twine
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Dried Flower/Everlasting, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Wildflower
Shade Trees
Botanical Name
SORGHASTRUM nutans
ULMUS rubra
Common Name
Indian Grass
Slippery Elm
In Hindi
भारतीय घास
Slippery Elm
In German
Indian Grass
Rotulme
In French
Herbe indienne
Slippery Elm
In Spanish
Hierba india
olmo resbaladizo
In Greek
Ινδικό Grass
Slippery Elm
In Portuguese
grama indianas
Slippery Elm
In Polish
Indyjski Trawa
Slippery Elm
In Latin
Indian Grass
Lubricus Elm
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Poales
Urticales
Family
Poaceae
Ulmaceae
Genus
Sorghastrum
Ulmus
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
-
Number of Species
920
1
27800
👆🏻