Dwarf Prairie Dropseed
Sporobolus heterolepis 'Tara'
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Dwarf Prairie Dropseed - #1 Container is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry is designed to protect both consumers and the nursery trade from invasive plant pests and diseases. Sites that display the Plant Sentry protection badge are protected from consumers buying and nurseries shipping material carrying invasive pests and diseases.
This proprietary eCommerce software prevents the shipment of a restricted plant to each state. The Plant Sentry system includes a shipment certification program. The Plant Sentry Compliance Officer works closely with NatureHills.com and each nursery or fulfillment center to ensure only compliant plants are sold to customers.
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Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Shipping
To obtain a more accurate shipment time-frame, simply enter your zip code in the “Find Your Growing Zone” box to the right. Our plants are grown all over the country and lead time on items may be different because of this. Once your order is placed, you will also receive the specific shipment time-frame information as part of your order confirmation. Once an item ships, you will receive shipment notification and tracking numbers, so you can follow along while your plant travels to your doorstep. We use FedEx, UPS, or USPS at our discretion.
Due to winter weather we have put a hold on shipping to the areas shown below in grey. You can still order now and we will ship the plant to you during an appropriate time for your zone.
Standard Shipping Rates
At Nature Hills we handle, package and ship the products you order with the utmost care to ensure healthy delivery. Shipping and handling charges are calculated based on the tables below. Please note that some items include an additional handling surcharge, these will be noted on the item's product page.
From | To | S&H |
---|---|---|
$0 | $19.99 | $24.99 |
$20 | $49.99 | $29.99 |
$50 | $69.99 | $34.99 |
$70 | $99.99 | $39.99 |
$100 | $129.99 | $44.99 |
$130 | $149.99 | $48.99 |
$150 | $150+ | Approx 28% |
Click here to see our full rates
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 |
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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 Highlights
Dwarf Prairie Dropseed highlights at a glance!
Specifications
Specifications
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Brand
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Botanical Name
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Growing Zones
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Mature Height
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Mature Spread
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Sun ExposureFull Sun
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Moisture
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Soil
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Growth RateSlow
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Fall Color
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Pruning Time
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Bloom PeriodSummer

Growing Zones 4-9
Nothing adds pizazz to a landscape like finding the perfect Ornamental Prairie Grass. The Dwarf Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis 'Tara') is just that and more! It's a wonderfully expressive, compact grass with a well-manicured form! Combined with rich fall color, that makes Dwarf Prairie the ideal addition to your yard, no matter how hostile the sun and soil type might be!
This spritely plant grows in festive medium green clumps. Its thin leaves grow upright and fan outward in a lovely fountain or vase shape. And when summer rolls around, the Dwarf Prairie Dropseed decorates itself with fine creamy orange flowers that are known for their distinct coriander scent! This refined plant is happy to provide fall color no matter where it becomes established. It glows in fall as it transforms from green to amber-like browns and reds.
You don't have to worry about this delightful plant self-seeding. It's sterile, so it won't take over your garden. Spreading 2-3 feet in width and only 12 inches high, it will, however, fill large swaths of tricky ground with a fine-textured airy, and soft beauty that is delightfully low-maintenance!
Planting and Application:
The Dwarf Prairie Dropseed thrives in conditions other plants would find less than ideal. As a dwarf version of native grass, it adapts well to clay, open areas, and glades. In fact, it loves to let its graceful blades sway and dance in the gentle breeze, and its specialty is adapting to dry and rocky regions. Use this hardy grass 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!
How can you best use Dwarf Prairie Dropseed in your yard? This plant is perfect for mass plantings. It will add a shock of green to your yard in the summer and orange in the fall, and it features a texture that other plants can only dream of. Its easy-to-manage size makes it excellent for architectural flair and a manicured look. Even container plantings gain light and airy green fillers and spillers!
You may also want to use this ornamental grass as an accent plant or to establish a contrast of color and shape. It also will dazzle you as a groundcover or a way to add green to your rock garden.
- Light & Airy, Soft Green Mounds
- Vivid Amber/Brown Fall Color
- Summery Scented Creamy Orange Plumes
- Sterile Seedless Variety!
- Offers Well-Manicured Shape & Fine-Texture
- Highly Adaptable & Versatile Landscape Grass
- Great in Mass Plantings, Lawn Alternative, Rows & Groupings
#ProPlantTips for Care
To ensure your Dwarf Prairie Dropseed grows to its full potential, plant it in a sun-soaked region of your yard. It prefers drier soil that drains quickly. It does well on slopes where the water can flow away as its roots hang tight to your soil. These are xeric, drought-tolerant, and low-water usage plants once established. 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!
- Loves Full Sun
- Any Well-Drained Site - Grows Well in Dry Rocky Soil
- Easy Going Warm-Season Grass
- Very Xeric & Low-Maintenance
- Prune Down in Early Spring
Don't miss out on your opportunity to grow on of the most versatile and attractive ornamental grasses. This perennial will surely become your go-to for texture and style. Oder a Dwarf Prairie Dropseed today!