Prairie Dropseed Grass
Sporobolus heterolepis
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry™ Protected
Your order is protected by our compliance system that:
- Prevents restricted plants from shipping to your state
- Ensures plants meet your state's agricultural requirements
- Protects gardens from invasive pests and diseases
Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Fast, Safe Plant Delivery
Ships in 3-4 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected
| Under $50 | $9.99 |
| $50 - $99.99 | $14.99 |
| $100 - $149.99 | $16.99 |
| $150 - $198.99 | $24.99 |
| $199+ | FREE |
✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee
Understanding Plant Options
Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:
- Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
- Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements
Container Plant Sizes
Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.
Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2" x 2" x 3" | 0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts | 0.20 - 0.23 dry liters |
| 4" Container | 0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts | 0.35 - 0.96 dry liters |
| 4.5" Container | 0.65 dry quarts | 0.72 dry liters |
| 6" Container | 1.4 dry quarts | 1.59 dry liters |
| 1 Quart | 1 dry quart | 1.1 dry liters |
| 5.5" Container | 1.89 dry quarts | 2.08 dry liters |
Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Quart | 2 dry quarts | 2.2 dry liters |
| #1 Container | 2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts | 2.49 - 4.11 dry liters |
| 5" x 5" x 12" | 3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts | 3.85 - 4.74 dry liters |
Mature Plants (2-4 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #2 Container | 1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons | 5.24 - 7.75 dry liters |
| #3 Container | 2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons | 8.14 - 12.16 dry liters |
Large Plants (3-5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #5 Container | 2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons | 12.86 - 20.35 dry liters |
| #6 Container | 5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons | 23.12 - 26.42 dry liters |
| #7 Container | 5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons | 26.34 - 28.76 dry liters |
Bare Root Plants
Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.
Common Sizes:
- Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
- Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet
Important Notes
Container Volume Specifications
- Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
- Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
- Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents
Growing Conditions
- Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
- Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
- Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment
Seasonal Availability
- Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
- Container plants are available throughout the growing season
- Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes
Questions?
For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.
Plant Sentry™ Protected
Your order is protected by our compliance system that:
- Prevents restricted plants from shipping to your state
- Ensures plants meet your state's agricultural requirements
- Protects gardens from invasive pests and diseases
Plant Profile & Growing Essentials
Cold hardy, Native, Fall Color/Interest, Deer-resistant, Slopes/Erosion Control, Non-invasive, Low Maintenance, Heat Tolerant, and Drought resistant
Specifications
Specifications
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Botanical Name
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Height
-
Width
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Growing Zones
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Sunlight
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Growth RateSlow
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Flower Color
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Leaf Color
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Fall Color
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NativeYes
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Pollinator Required
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Bloom PeriodLate Summer, Early Fall
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FragrantYes
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Does Not Ship ToAK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, WA
Planting & Care Instructions
Planting & Care Instructions
Growing Zones 3-9
Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) is a fantastically hardy native Ornamental Grass that features fine-textured, arching foliage of vibrant green! Like green mist floating over the ground, the airy clumps transition to golden yellow for fall. A hardy native prairie grass, Dropseed is heat and cold-hardy throughout USDA growing zones 3 to 9!
You'll enjoy the pink-tinted, tan seedheads that possess a subtle fragrance that's unmistakable and very unusual for Ornamental grass! And you'll love the way the foliage gently dips as the seeds ripen.
Deer and drought-resistant, Dropseed grasses are incredibly adaptable and hardy, even thriving in a wide range of climates. Growing only 2-3 feet in height when in bloom, the airy mounds of greenery can spread 18-24 inches wide.
Planting and Application:
Use this hardy grass en masse in rows, fine-textured groupings, in drifts to fill large swaths of sunny ground in low-maintenance greenery, or in out-of-the-way, back-of-the-property swaths as a lawn alternative that only needs to be mowed a couple of times of the year! Create naturalized, small-scale prairie installations or wildflower gardens where wildlife, beneficial insects, and birds can roam freely while saving you time, money, and energy!
As equally at home in more modern and formal plantings, this airy Ornamental grass looks great as filler throughout the cottage and rock gardens, as edging along the front edges of your perennial and walkway gardens! Small enough and tough enough to stand up in the hell strip along a driveway, road, and sidewalk and look good doing it!
- Airy Mist-Like Native Prairie Grass
- Green Fine-Texture
- Great Lawn Alternative
- Lovely Pinkish Seedheads
- Highly Adaptable Hardy Warm-Season Grass
- Sun Garden Edging, En Masse & Versatile Landscape Use
#ProPlantTips for Care
Prairie Dropseed grass needs the full sun to do its best. Adaptable to nearly any well-drained soil, these are xeric, drought-tolerant, and low-water usage plants once established. Just provide regular moisture while new installations are getting settled in their first growing season. Only needing pruned or mowed down once a year in early spring, you can divide clumps every 3-5 years to maintain their vigor. Be patient with warm-season grasses because they take their sweet time getting going in the spring, but then shine through the heat and sun of the summer and fall!
- Full Sun
- Any Well-Drained Soil Type
- Low Water Needs Once Established
- Hardy & Easy Care!
- Prune Back in Early Spring
A favorite of the native prairie grasses, Prairie Dropseed will soon be a favorite of yours as well! Order this low-maintenance Ornamental Grass today from NatureHills.com!
