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Native Plant Database

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Sporobolus compositus var. compositus (Poir.) Merr.

Composite dropseed, Tall dropseed

Poaceae (Grass Family)

Synonyms: Sporobolus asper

USDA Symbol: SPCOC2

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Tall dropseed is a 2-4 ft., perennial bunchgrass with stout culms in small tufts. A long, narrow, inflorescence stays partly hidden inside the sheath. Foliage turns purple in the fall, eventually becoming tan.

 

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Grass/Grass-like
Fruit Type: Achene , Caryopsis
Leaf: Green
Fruit:
Size Class: 3-6 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Aug , Sep , Oct

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , AZ , CO , CT , DE , GA , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , MT , NC , ND , NE , NJ , NM , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SD , TN , TX , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV , WY
Canada: NB
Native Distribution: VT to e. WA, s. to LA & AZ
Native Habitat: Prairie, Plains, Meadows, Pastures, Savannahs, Open woodlands
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Moist
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Soil Description: Sandy soils. Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay
Conditions Comments: Not Available

Value to Beneficial Insects

Provides Nesting Materials/Structure for Native Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Propagation

Description: Not Available
Seed Collection: Not Available
Seed Treatment: Not Available
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

From the National Suppliers Directory

According to the inventory provided by Associate Suppliers, this plant is available at the following locations:

Ohio Prairie Nursery - Hiram, OH

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Brackenridge Field Laboratory - Austin, TX

Wildflower Center Seed Bank

LBJWC-45 Collected 2006-11-03 in Travis County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Bibliography

Bibref 291 - Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Sporobolus compositus var. compositus in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Sporobolus compositus var. compositus in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Sporobolus compositus var. compositus

Metadata

Record Modified: 2007-01-01
Research By: TWC Staff

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