Sporobolus heterolepis (A. Gray) A. Gray (prairie dropseed), growth habit

Sporobolus heterolepis (A. Gray) A. Gray (prairie dropseed), ornamental grass, clump-forming warm season perennial prairie grass that is native throughout the Midwest, leaves are fine-textured hair-like medium green (to 20” long and 1/16” wide) typically forming an arching foliage mound to 15” tall and 18” wide, foliage turning golden with orange hues in fall fading to light bronze in winter, open branching flower panicles appear on slender stems which rise well above the foliage clump in late summer to 30-36" tall, flowers having pink and brown tints but are perhaps most noted for their unique fragrance (hints of coriander or popcorn), tiny rounded mature seeds drop to the ground from their hulls in autumn giving rise to their common name