Big Bluestem
(Andropogon gerardii)

• Spreads by short rhizomes
• Somewhat bunchy
• Grows 6 to 9 feet tall

Identification Tips:

• Sheath: Round to somewhat flattened, open, often purplish at the base, usually hairy
• Blade: Rolled in the bud shoot, silky hairs widely dispersed on the upper leaf surface
• Ligule: Small membranous

Switch grass
(Panicum virgatum)

• Sod forming
• 3 to 6 feet tall

Identification Tips:

• Sheath: Round, open, white to purplish tinged below
• Blade: Rolled in the bud shoot, flat up to 1/2-inch wide
• Ligule: Fringe of hairs with a dense mat of hairs extending onto the upper leaf surface

Little Bluestem
(Schizachyrium scoparium)

• Strong bunch grass
• Grows 2 to 4 feet tall

Identification Tips:

• Sheath: Flattened, open, often purplish at the base
• Blade: Folded in the bud shoot, folded along the midrib, narrow
• Ligule: Small membranous

Indian grass
(Sorghastrum nutans)

• Spreads by short rhizomes
• somewhat bunchy
• 3 to 6 feet tall

Identification Tips:

• Sheath: Round, open, may be hairy at the base
• Blade: Rolled in the bud shoot, flat, narrowed at base
• Ligule: Prominent, membranous, clawlike-often referred to as a rifle sight

Black-eyed Susan
(Rudbeckia hirta)

• 2-5' tall
• blooms July to Sept.
• prefers dry sites
• 100,000 seeds/oz.

Yellow Coneflower
(Ratibida pinnata)

• 2-5' tall
• blooms July-Sept.
• dry to moist sites
• 27,000 seeds/oz.

White Wild Indigo
(Baptisia lactea)

• 2-3' tall
• blooms May to June
• medium to moist sites
• 1585 seeds/oz.

Canada Tick Trefoil
(Desmodium canadense)

• 1-5' tall
• blooms July-August
• moist sites
• 4,500 seeds/oz