Resources < Wildlife Habitats < Native Plants < Native Plant Database < Sporobolus heterolepis

Prairie Dropseed
Sporobolus heterolepis

Dropseed is an important grass for ground-feeding birds such as Wild Turkeys, Field sparrows and juncos. it is also a beautiful, clump-forming grass of very fine texture which can be used as a border plant instead of Liriope or Mondo grass. The grass is very drought tolerant, slow-growing, and very useful in either the formal or natural garden.

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Family: Lauraceae (Laurel Family)

Description: Medium-sized deciduous tree with bright green, aromatic leaves 3 to 7" long and 2 to 4" wide. Leaves come in 3 shapes—entire, 2-lobed (mitten-shaped), and 3-lobed. 1 to 2" yellow flowers appear in March or April before the leaves. 1/2" blue-black drupes ripen in late summer. Fall leaf color is yellow, orange, scarlet, and purple.

Size: 20 to 60’ high, 25 to 40’ wide.

Habit: Slender, pyramidal tree with horizontal branches in distinct tiered layers. Tends to sucker and form dense thickets.

Growth Rate: Fast.

Light: Full sun to light shade.

Planting and Care: Wild-growing trees are difficult to move, especially those that have developed from root suckers. For best results, transplant container-grown trees in early spring into moist, well drained, acid, sandy loam. Trees are drought tolerant once established.

Ornamental Value: Assets include small yellow flowers in spring, attractive blue-black fruits in late summer, fabulous fall color, and an elegant tiered branching structure.

Landscape Usage: Plant at the edge of a meadow or in a sunny naturalized area.

Wildlife Benefits: Larval host plant for spicebush swallowtails, flannel moths, and sassafras leaf rollers. Fruits are consumed by a wide variety of birds.

Native Habitat: Found across Georgia along fencerows, woodland edges, and old fields.

Propagation: Stratified seed, root cuttings.

Text and photo by Leslie Kimel, Georgia Wildlife Federation