Prairie Cordgrass

Spartina pectinata

$49⁹⁹

In Stock
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Plant Size

#1 Container

Product variants

Plant Sentry™

Delivery and Shipping

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 Cordgrass highlights at a glance!

Specifications

Brand

Nature Hills' Choice
Botanical Name

Spartina pectinata
Growing Zones

3-8
Mature Height

4 - 8 feet
Mature Spread

4 - 8 feet
Sun Exposure

Full Sun
Moisture

medium-wet
Soil

Tolerates Wet Soils
Growth Rate

Fast
Flower Color

green, cream, turning brown
Fall Color

bright gold
Pollinator Friendly

No
Pruning Time

Early Spring
Bloom Period

Summer

Growing Zones 3-8

Find Your Growing Zone!

Graceful fine texture, the native Prairie Cordgrass (Spartina pectinata) is an ornamental native Prairie Grass that features arching green foliage and airy plumes/seed heads in the summer. Highly adaptable, these native plants handle moist to wet conditions, grow fast, and can grow tall!

These tough plants can react up to 4-6 feet and are taller when in bloom. These native residents of the Tall Grass Prairies are larval Host Plants for Skipper Butterflies and Tussock Moths, plus provide wildlife and songbirds nesting and shelter. The seed heads become late-season accents nearly 8 feet in height.

These warm-season Grasses are hardy throughout USDA growing zones 3 to 8 and are fantastic wetland grasses that grow well in average moisture soils too! The cream and green flowering stems turn brown in the autumn while the green foliage becomes brilliant gold!

Planting and Application:

These clumping wetland Grasses are amazing at stabilizing soil along streams and pond banks, or on moist slopes and hillsides that frequently erode due to rushing rainwater. Plant two feet apart in a zigzag pattern and within a couple years the clumps will grow together to create a solid mat.

Prairie Cordgrass is fantastic to have as backdrops to Rain Gardens and in rows and groupings around the HVAC unit drains. Create Gutter Gardens with these tall Grasses that work as both anchors by your home's hardscapes and soften corners. Mix with Rush Grass, Sedges, and wetland or marsh plants for a unique water garden!

Create wet prairie restoration and wildlife bioswales with these tall Ornamental Grasses. Balance your local ecosystem and support pollinators, and wildlife, while adding tall privacy and screening all growing season with Prairie Cordgrass!

Tall Airy Fine-Textured Green Perennial Grass
Airy Plumes Turn Green to Cream to Tan
Brilliant Gold Fall Color
Pollinator Host Plant & Wildlife Shelter
Backdrops, Water Gardens, Garden Anchors & Native Plantings

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Plant these Native Grasses in well-drained soil that remains moist, but these tough plants can handle occasional drought once established. Plant in full sun for the best height and vigor, but Cordgrass can handle some afternoon/partial shade too. These warm-season Grasses should be pruned back in the early spring to clear the way for the new growth.

Sun, Sun, Sun!
Well-Drained Soil
Moderate to Low Moisture Needs
Deadhead/Prune Late Autumn
Deer Seldom Bother Them

Restore wetlands and native tallgrass prairies with Prairie Cordgrass from Nature Hills! You'll love these airy perennial ornamental grasses in your landscape year after year!