Blue Grama
Bouteloua gracilis
In Nebraska, where the flora of the Great Plains reaches in, a grass for movement and bird seed, 8–16 in wide.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 8–20 in
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Nebraska · Zones 4–6
Native Ornamental Grasses in Nebraska
Native grasses and sedges that bring movement, winter structure, and bird seed — the matrix that ties a planting together. For Nebraska, the right natives are shaped by Sandhills & mixedgrass prairie and a continental, semi-arid west climate. Every species below, from Blue Grama and Sideoats Grama to the rest of the list, is genuinely native to Nebraska and the wider flora of the Great Plains 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 Nebraska
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 4–6 · see this collection in other states.
Sideoats Grama
Bouteloua curtipendula
In Nebraska, where the flora of the Great Plains reaches in, a 1.5–2.5 ft-tall native grass that knits the bed together and feeds seed-eaters.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum
In Nebraska, where the flora of the Great Plains reaches in, a grass for structure and bird seed, turning airy pink-gold panicles and standing 3–6 ft tall through the cold.
- Full–part sun
- Dry to wet
- 3–6 ft
- Fall color
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
In Nebraska, where the flora of the Great Plains reaches in, movement in summer, blue-green to copper color in fall — a native grass that holds all winter, 2–4 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Fall color
Prairie Dropseed
Sporobolus heterolepis
In Nebraska, where the flora of the Great Plains reaches in, warm-season grass turning fine emerald to amber in fall and holding its form all winter, spreading 2–3 ft.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Fall color
Indian Grass
Sorghastrum nutans
In Nebraska, where the flora of the Great Plains 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
Big Bluestem
Andropogon gerardii
In Nebraska, where the flora of the Great Plains reaches in, summer texture, bronze-purple seed heads autumn color, and winter standing presence on a 4–7 ft-tall native grass.
- Full sun
- Dry to wet
- 4–7 ft
- Fall color
Sourcing
Where to find these in Nebraska
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.