Prairie Dropseed

Sporobolus

Sporobolus airoides ( Alkali Dropseed Grass )
A very graceful, vigorous but non invasive grass, reaching up to 6.5 x 3 ( rarely over 3 ) feet, that is native to North America from British Columbia to Alberta and western North Dakota, south to Mexico to Missouri.
This grass has very thick, tough, almost woody stem bases.
The foliage, forming a clump up to 2 feet high, is gray-green, turning to yellow in autumn.
The flower plumes, reach as high as 6.5 feet, and form an airy pink haze.
The flowering season begins during early summer and lasts for months.
Hardy zones 4 to 9 in full sun. Alkaline soil, very saline soil and drought tolerant.
Deer resistant.

* USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

Sporobolus heterolepsis ( Prairie Dropseed )
A very handsome, slow growing ( but worth the wait ), perennial grass forming a foliage clump, up to 2 x 3 feet, that is native to the central U.S. from Montana to Mass.; south to New Mexico to Arkansas to Georgia. The Prairie Dropseed is long-lived and usually takes 3 to 5 years to mature.
The spraying mounds of fine textured foliage, up to 20 x 0.15 inches, is rich mid-green during summer, turning to deep orange during autumn, then to copper color in winter.
It looks great for groundcover and mass planting.
The rusty-tan flower plumes, up to 4 ( rarely over 2.5 ) feet high, are borne late summer to early autumn.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 in full sun to partial shade on well drained soil that can be anything from dry stony soil to moist fertile soil. Heat and drought tolerant. Cut back during very early spring. Deer resistant and not prone to pests or disease. Propagation is from seed or division done during early spring.

* photo of unknown internet source

* photos taken on Sep 14 2013 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Sep 23 2013 in Burtonsville, MD

Tara
More compact and upright, reaching up to 3 x 3 feet, with silvery flower plumes and fine-textured, bright green foliage that sways in summer breezes and turns orange-red in fall.

Sporobolus wrightii ( Giant Sacaton Grass )
A very fast growing, MASSIVE, clump-forming ornamental grass, reaching up to 8 x 6 feet. It is native from California to southwest Utah to Oklahoma and south.
The narrow, blue-green foliage reaches up to 6 feet in height.
The airy flower plumes are pale tan.
Hardy zones 3 to 9 in full sun to partial shade on just about any well drained soil. Clay, salt, alkaline and very heat / drought tolerant - can survive on just 2 deep waterings per month in summer. Deer resistant.

Los Lunas Form
Also called Windbreaker. Very fast growing and larger, up to 5.8 x 4.8 feet after one season, eventually up to 10 x 6 feet, with large bright green, conical flower spikes that are much more showy.
An outstanding specimen plant with gray-green foliage.
Due to its height, it can be used as a windbreak and makes a great dry climate substitute for Miscanthus and Pampas Grass.