Native Grasses and Sedges:

Andropogon gerardii
Big Bluestem

Plant height: 3-8 ft.
Blooming period: n/a
Light requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Soil type: Dry to Wet Mesic
Big Bluestem is thought to be the most important grass component of the northern tallgrass prairie ecosystem. In addition to providing food and cover for prairie wildlife, the grass was used medicinally by Native Americans. It is a warm season, clump forming grass.
Pound of seed: CALL
4" pot: $5.00
1/2 Gallon pot: $8.00
1 Gallon pot: $15.00
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Andropogon scoparius
Little Bluestem

Plant height: 2-4 ft..
Blooming period: n/a
Light requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Soil type: Dry to Mesic
Little Bluestem is an excellent native landscaping grass with beautiful fall and winter cover. The seeds provide food for songbirds.
Pound of seed: CALL
4" pot: $5.00
1/2 Gallon pot: $8.00
1 Gallon pot: $15.00
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Bouteloua curtipendula
Side Oats Grama

Plant height: 2-3 ft.
Blooming period: n/a
Light requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Soil type: Mesic to Dry
Side Oats Grama is an excellent landscaping grass with graceful seed stalks. It is a non-agressive grass, making it an excellent companion for low growing forbs. It is very drought tolerant and easy to start.
Pound of seed: CALL
4" pot: $5.00
1/2 Gallon pot: $8.00
1 Gallon pot: $15.00
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Bouteloua curtipendula
Buffalo Grass

Plant height: 4-8 in.
Blooming period: n/a
Light requirements: Full Sun
Soil type: Dry to Mesic
Buffalo Grass is a native grass dominant in shorter, drier western prairies. It is becoming popular as a lawn grass due to its drought tolerance, soil stabilization, and vigorous sod forming abilities. The low growing habit of Buffalo Grass makes it possible to leave it unmowed. Early settlers on the Great Plains likely used buffalo grass sod to build their sod houses.
Pound of seed: CALL
4" pot: $5.00
1/2 Gallon pot: $8.00
1 Gallon pot: $15.00
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Bouteloua gracilis
Blue Grama

Plant height: 6-36 in.
Blooming period: n/a
Light requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Soil type: Dry Mesic to Dry
Blue Grama is extremely drought tolerant and may be used alone or with buffalo grass in lawns. It is a clump-forming grass with easily identified seed heads that resemble eyebrows.
Pound of seed: CALL
4" pot: $5.00
1/2 Gallon pot: $8.00
1 Gallon pot: $15.00
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Carex bicknellii
Prairie Sedge

Plant height: 2-5 ft..
Blooming period: June-July
Light requirements: Full Sun
Soil type: Mesic to Wet Mesic
Sedges are a major component of wet prairies. They provide food for wildlife and serve to anchor and enrich soils in erodable wet areas.
Pound of seed: CALL
Bare root transplant: Not Available
Potted plant: Not Available
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Carex comosa
Bottlebrush Sedge

Plant height: 1-2 ft.
Blooming period: June-July
Light requirements: Full Sun
Soil type: Wet Mesic to Mesic
Bottlebrush Sedge is one of an estimated 110 species of sedges found in Iowa. Sedges are important for wildlife food, soil stabilization and as a major component of wet prairies. The leaves of sedges are grasslike, but the stems have distinct edges, unlike the smooth grasses and round rushes found in similar habitats.
Pound of seed: CALL
4" pot: $5.00
1/2 Gallon pot: $8.00
1 Gallon pot: $15.00
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Carex vulpinoidea
Fox Sedge

Plant height: 1-3 ft.
Blooming period: n/a
Light requirements: Full Sun
Soil type: Dry Mesic to Wet
Fox Sedge is highly adaptable to many soil types. It’s wide, grasslike leaves and bright green color make it a nice addition to a prairie meadow, rain garden or perennial border. Fifteen species of Iowa waterfowl are know to feed on sedges, which are excellent soil stabilizers along lake and pond shores.
Pound of seed: CALL
4" pot: $5.00
1/2 Gallon pot: $8.00
1 Gallon pot: $15.00
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Hystrix patula
Bottlebrush Grass

Plant height: 3 ft.
Blooming period: n/a
Light requirements: Partial Shade to Full Shade
Soil type: Dry Mesic to Mesic
Bottlebrush Grass is found in savannas and woodlands in Iowa. The graceful seed heads make this grass a nice addition to shaded perennial beds or borders.
Pound of seed: CALL
4" pot: $5.00
1/2 Gallon pot: $8.00
1 Gallon pot: $15.00
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Koeleria cristata
June Grass

Plant height: 1-2 ft.
Blooming period: n/a
Light requirements: Full Sun
Soil type: Dry Mesic to Dry
June Grass is a cool season, sod forming grass. It is a good companion to short native forbs. The flower/seed heads are feathery and attractive.
Pound of seed: CALL
4" pot: $5.00
1/2 Gallon pot: $8.00
1 Gallon pot: $15.00
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Sorghastrum nutans
Indiangrass

Plant height: 3-6 ft.
Blooming period: n/a
Light requirements: Full Sun
Soil type: Dry to Mesic
Indiangrass is a beautiful native prairie grass that is easily adapted to the home or corporate landscape. It makes an excellent companion for big bluestem. The seed attracts birds, including finches, sparrows and pheasants, from fall through winter.
Pound of seed: CALL
4" pot: $5.00
1/2 Gallon pot: $8.00
1 Gallon pot: $15.00
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Sporobolus heterolepis
Prairie Dropseed

Plant height: 2-3 ft.
Blooming period: n/a
Light requirements: Full Sun
Soil type: Dry to Wet Mesic
Prairie Dropseed is a fountain-shaped, clump forming native warm season grass. It is attractive and suitable for almost any sunny location. The small round seed is fragrant and an excellent source of food for ground-feeding birds. The seeds were ground into flour by Native Americans.
Pound of seed: CALL
4" pot: $5.00
1/2 Gallon pot: $8.00
1 Gallon pot: $15.00
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