Prairie Dropseed Sporobulus heterolepsis 
                                                          J. Dan Pittillo from the USDA's PLANTs website
 
Common Name Prairie Dropseed
Scientific Name Sporobolus heterolepsis
Height Grass up to 2', seed heads higher.
 Sun/Shade Full - partial sun. 
Soil Moist, rich, well drained soil.
Color Green in summer; red, orange, and yellow in fall.  White in winter.
Notes Attractive.  Plant seeds in fall or early spring.  Distinctive border - fountain-like growth.  Distinct smell - some say of buttered popcorn.  Intolerant of salt. Very fire tolerant.
  Prairie Nursery Heartland Restoration Possibility Place J&J Aquatic Nursery Earthly Goods
Costs
from Spring 2001 catalog
3" pots
4-11  $2.95 each 
12-31  $2.75 each 
32-63  $2.25 each 
64-95  $1.95 each 
96+   $1.75 each

seeds 14,000/oz
1 oz.  $12.00 
 1/4 lb   $40.00 
1/2 lb  $75.00 
1-10 lbs $120.00 
10-49 lbs   $115.00 
50+ lbs  $110.00 

$20.00/oz

Information on Sporobolus heterolepsis:
- USDA's PLANTS database. Plant Fact Sheet: http://plants.usda.gov/plants/cgi_bin/topics.cgi?earl=fact_sheet.cgi
- Wisconsin State Herbarium - http://wiscinfo.doit.wisc.edu/herbarium/scripts/detail.asp?SpCode=SPOHET
- Deam, Charles C. Grasses of Indiana.  Indianapolis: WM. B. Burford Printing Co, 1929
- Prairie Nursery 2001 Catalog and Growing Guide.