Indiangrass

Sorghastrum nutans

Mason Brock (Masebrock)

Taxonomy

Division:: Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:: Poaceae
Genus:: Sorghastrum
Species:: Sorghastrum nutans

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:: Perennial
Growth Habit:: Graminoid
Height:: 8-12 ft
Light Requirements:: Full Sun, Part Shade, Shade
Drought Tolerance:: High
Bloom Months:: aug, sep, oct
Bloom Colors:: Yellow
Lawn Substitute:: Yes

Native Range

United States: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming, Canada: Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:: ★★★★★ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Faronta albilinea, Faronta diffusa, 🛑Georgia Satyr (Neonympha areolata), Hegon's roadside skipper (Amblyscirtes hegon)

Reported Fauna Sightings

Bees: Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis), Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis) Butterflies:Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes), Bronze Copper (Tharsalea hyllus), (Pieris rapae), (Pieris rapae), Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia), Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia), Common Wood-Nymph (Cercyonis pegala), Common Wood-Nymph (Cercyonis pegala), Dun Skipper (Euphyes vestris), Dun Skipper (Euphyes vestris), Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Pterourus glaucus), Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Pterourus glaucus), Great Spangled Fritillary (Argynnis cybele), Great Spangled Fritillary (Argynnis cybele), Least Skipper (Ancyloxypha numitor), Least Skipper (Ancyloxypha numitor), ⚠️Monarch (Danaus plexippus), Northern Crescent (Phyciodes cocyta), Northern Crescent (Phyciodes cocyta), Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme), Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme), Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus), Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus), Viceroy (Limenitis archippus)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:: fertile, well-drained loamy soil
pH:: 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:: excellent drainage required
Moisture:: dry to moderate
Notes:: prefers open, sunny prairies and meadows

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: Mix seed with equal amounts of vermiculite and lightly dampen in a plastic bag or container. Store this seed for 3-4 months in a cold room of 34-36 degrees F. Some improvement in germination may be seen with 3-4 weeks of cold stratification at 40 F. Cover seeded plug trays with clear, light-weight plastic and expose them to full sunlight in the greenhouse. Media should be kept continually moist by misting under the plastic as needed.

Establishment: Germination was greater in light than dark. Mechanical injury of caryopsis resulted in higher germination. Dry storage of seeds resulted in 44% germination. Pretreatment with gibberellic acid resulted in 25% germination. Germination time was drastically reduced without cold stratification by covering seeded plug trays with clear, light-weight plastic and exposing them to full sunlight in the greenhouse.

Source: npn.rngr.net