Is Indian Grass deer resistant?
Sorghastrum nutans
Plant typeOrnamental grassHardinessZones 4–9LightFull sun
Mature height60–84 in
BloomFallMaintenanceLow, mostly leave it alone
Native range44 US states
About Indian Grass
Native prairie grass with bronze seed heads held well above the foliage. Cut it in late winter rather than autumn, since the standing stems are the winter interest.
Soil and care
- Soil pH
- 5.5 to 7.5
- Drainage
- Average garden soil
- Water
- Low
- Spacing
- 24 to 35 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low
Similar to Indian Grass
Other ornamental grasss with the same deer rating.
- Big BluestemAndropogon sp.Zones 3–9, genus rangeRarely damaged
- Blue FescueFestuca glaucaZones 4–8Rarely damaged
- Blue Oat GrassHelictotrichon sempervirensZones 4–8Rarely damaged
- Clump BambooFargesia sp.Zones 5–9, genus rangeRarely damaged
- Feather Reed GrassCalamagrostis sp.Zones 4–9, genus rangeRarely damaged
- Fountain GrassPennisetum alopecuroidesZones 6–9Rarely damaged
Where Indian Grass grows
Hardy across most of these 51 states on zone range alone. Mountain and coastal areas sit outside the ranges used here, so check your own zone before ordering.
- Pennsylvanianative
- New Jerseynative
- New Yorknative
- Connecticutnative
- Massachusettsnative
- Virginianative
- Marylandnative
- Michigannative
- Wisconsinnative
- Ohionative
- Indiananative
- Illinoisnative
- Minnesotanative
- Missourinative
- North Carolinanative
- Tennesseenative
- Georgianative
- Texasnative
- Coloradonative
- California
- Oregon
- Washington
- New Hampshirenative
- Vermontnative
- Mainenative
- Rhode Islandnative
- Delawarenative
- West Virginianative
- Kentuckynative
- South Carolinanative
- Floridanative
- Alabamanative
- Mississippinative
- Louisiananative
- Arkansasnative
- Oklahomanative
- Kansasnative
- Nebraskanative
- Iowanative
- North Dakotanative
- South Dakotanative
- Montananative
- Wyomingnative
- Idaho
- Utahnative
- Nevada
- Arizonanative
- New Mexiconative
- Alaska
- District of Columbianative
- Hawaii
Highlighted states are within its native range according to the USDA PLANTS database, where it is native to 44 US states in total.
Browse from here
Every list Indian Grass belongs to.
Hardy in these zones
Common questions about Indian Grass
- Is Indian Grass deer resistant?
- Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans) is rated Rarely Damaged on the Rutgers NJAES four-tier scale. Deer almost always leave this alone.
- What hardiness zones does Indian Grass grow in?
- Indian Grass is hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9. Outside that range it will either not survive winter or will struggle with summer heat.
- Does Indian Grass grow in shade?
- No. Indian Grass wants full sun and will grow thin and flop in shade.
- How big does Indian Grass get?
- Mature height is roughly 60–84 in. Growth rate is moderate.