Sideoats Grama
Bouteloua curtipendula
In Michigan, where the flora of the Midwest reaches in, fine-textured native grass weaving the planting together, oat-like, orange anthers flowers.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Michigan · Zones 4–6
Native Ornamental Grasses in Michigan
Native grasses and sedges that bring movement, winter structure, and bird seed — the matrix that ties a planting together. Michigan sits in a landscape of Great Lakes forest & dune, and the natives that thrive here are the ones built for its humid continental, lake-moderated character. The list below — led by Sideoats Grama and Pennsylvania Sedge — is filtered to species genuinely native to Michigan and the wider flora of the Midwest and hardy through zones 4–6. Native grasses are the connective tissue of a natural planting, weaving between the flowers, holding the soil, and standing handsome through the whole winter. Warm-season grasses want full sun and lean soil and green up late, so don't give up on them in May. Cut everything back to a hand's height in late winter, just before new growth, and that's the entire job.
The plants
7 native species for Michigan
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 4–6 · see this collection in other states.
Pennsylvania Sedge
Carex pensylvanica
In Michigan, where the flora of the Midwest reaches in, fine-textured native grass weaving the planting together, reaching 6–12 in.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 6–12 in
- Foliage
Prairie Dropseed
Sporobolus heterolepis
In Michigan, where the flora of the Midwest reaches in, catches the low autumn light, turning fine emerald to amber and standing 2–3 ft tall right through the snow.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Fall color
Indian Grass
Sorghastrum nutans
In Michigan, where the flora of the Midwest reaches in, a grass that earns its keep in fall and winter — bronze-gold plumes color, 4–7 ft tall, seed for the birds.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 4–7 ft
- Fall color
Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum
In Michigan, where the flora of the Midwest reaches in, a grass that earns its keep in fall and winter — airy pink-gold panicles color, 3–6 ft tall, seed for the birds.
- Full–part sun
- Dry to wet
- 3–6 ft
- Fall color
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
In Michigan, where the flora of the Midwest reaches in, movement in summer, blue-green to copper color in fall — a native grass that holds all winter, 1.5–2 ft wide.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Fall color
Big Bluestem
Andropogon gerardii
In Michigan, where the flora of the Midwest reaches in, turns bronze-purple seed heads as the season ends and holds that form till spring cleanup, 4–7 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry to wet
- 4–7 ft
- Fall color
Sourcing
Where to find these in Michigan
Seeds & live plants on Amazon
Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.
Browse on AmazonSome links here are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The surest source of locally-adapted stock is a native-plant nursery or a native plant society sale in your area.