South Carolina has native grass species in every habitat from the mountains to the sea. For many years, grasses had been thought of as prairie and meadow plants. Since the 1990s, native grasses have become appreciated not only for their ecological services in providing habitat and forage for wildlife, adding rich organic matter to the soil profile, protecting soil from erosion, and cleaning water as it enters the ground but also for bringing seasonal ornamental interest and sensory input to the built environment.
The five native perennial warm-season grasses profiled below can be found growing in public and private gardens at midland homes, schools, businesses, and parks.
Indian grass, Sorghastrum nutans, is the state native grass of South Carolina and among the original tallgrass prairie plants. The 6-8’ tall upright clumping grass blooms with small yellow plumes in late summer. Blue-green foliage turns yellow to orange to bronze in fall. Two 3-5’ tall blue-stemmed cultivars are ‘Indian Steel’ and ‘Sioux Blue.’ Walking within clumps of Indian grass gives children and adults a feel of the splendor of the prairie once covering America.
Pink muhly grass is one of the most unique grasses for fall color.
Switch grass, Panicum virgatum, is a 4-8’ tall upright grass valued for dramatic seasonal foliage color. In spring, fast growing green leaves emerge with red tips, darken in summer and turn burgundy in fall. The species and two cultivars ‘Heavy Metal’ with steel-blue foliage and ‘Shenandoah’ with red foliage are used as specimens, in perennial borders and groupings.
Pink muhly grass, Muhlenbergia capillaris, is a 2-3’ tall fine foliage clump forming grass sending forth cloud-like silky sprays of tiny airy pink panicles waving in the fall wind. The billowy showstopper is used in masses in traffic islands, rocky soils, on road banks and ditches and in garden drifts. The cultivar ‘Cotton Candy’ is the thriller for a container.
Big bluestem, Andropogon gerardii, grows 5-8’ tall in tight, upright clumps topped with three-clustered spikes resembling toes on a turkey foot. Blue-green leaves of summer turn reddish-brown in fall. ‘Red October’ is a cultivar with narrow deep green leaves with red streaks. In fall the red hue changes to burgundy, and after the first frost, foliage turns candy-apple red.
Little bluestem provides nesting, shelter, and food for wildlife.
Little bluestem, Schizachyrium scoparium, is a 3- 4’ tall clumping grass. Bluish green leaves turn orange to red in fall and into winter. Flowers of late summer give way to silvery tufts of plume along the drying stems. The leaves of cultivar ‘Blue Heaven’ emerge blue in spring, change to pink and burgundy in late summer, and turn copper in fall. Slender stems rise up with purple panicles. Tan seedheads persist for fall bird migration.
These grasses require full sun and well-drained soil with regular watering to establish root systems. Once established, they are drought-tolerant. Recommended seeding dates are late winter to late spring with soil temperature of at least 50°F. Since native grasses enrich the fall and winter landscape, avoid cutting back until late winter or early spring.
Switch grass ‘Shenondoah’ is valued for its red fall foliage.
Grasses dry well for winter arrangements. The stems, leaves and flowers of little bluestem and switchgrass can be woven into tapestries.
Bring a piece of the prairie to your garden with warm-season native grasses.
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