Native Plant of the Month | Golden feather grass or Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans)

Like other warm season grasses, golden feather grass makes most of its growth between June and August, meaning there’s very little of it to see early in the season. Once it gets going, its fountain of broadly linear leaves quickly grows 3 feet tall. In late summer, these are topped by plumes of golden flowers on sturdy 7-foot stalks and later by beige seedheads, which are greedily eaten by songbirds. In fall, leaves often turn yellow-orange and then fade to beige.

Deer resistant and with no pests or diseases, golden feather grass is easy to grow in average, well-drained soil. It performs equally well in clay and in dry, infertile soil, but will only grow in full sun. A prolific seeder, golden feather grass naturalizes easily but can become invasive in beds and borders. It is especially good in meadows and naturalistic gardens, pairing well with wildflowers like goldenrod, butterfly weed and coneflowers. Varieties include ‘Sioux Blue’ with its metallic blue leaves, which can be found at Bridge Gardens in our Rose Garden.