Prairie Dropseed Grass
Sporobolus heterolepis
- Stay Protected with Plant Sentry ™
Prairie Dropseed Grass - #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 |
---|---|---|
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
Prairie Dropseed Grass 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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Pollinator Required
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Fragrant
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Pruning Time
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Bloom PeriodFall

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!