Scientific Name:
SORGHASTRUM NUTANS
Common Name:
YELLOW INDIANGRASS
Erosion Index:
EXCELLENT
Erosion Index Value:
9.52
Wildlife Index:
EXCELLENT
Wildlife Index Value:
8.46
Ecological Distribution:
PINEYWOODS, GULF PRAIRIES AND MARSHES, POST OAK SAVANNAH, BLACKLAND
PRAIRIES, CROSS TIMBERS AND PRAIRIES, SOUTH TEXAS PLAINS, EDWARDS
PLATEAU, ROLLING PLAINS, HIGH PLAINS, TRANS-PECOS
Topographic Tolerance:
UPLAND, BOTTOMLAND
Elevation Tolerance:
TOLERANT OVER WIDE ELEVATION RANGE
Slope Tolerance:
TOLERANT OVER WIDE SLOPE RANGE
Aspect Tolerance:
TOLERANT ACROSS RANGE
Light Tolerance:
TOLERANT TO FULL SUN
Wetland Regional Indicator:
FACULTATIVE UPLAND
Physical Form:
GRASS
Habit:
Life Cycle:
PERENNIAL
Seed Age:
1 TO 4 YEARS OLD
Seed Interval:
1 YEAR OR LESS
Growth:
RAPID GROWTH, LONG-LIVED, TUFTED BUNCHGRASS, SOD-FORMING, DENSE FOLIAGE, CLOSE GROUND COVER, DEEP ROOTED
Hardiness:
FIRE TOLERANT, DISEASE TOLERANT, COLD TOLERANT
Vegetative Growth Period:
APR, MAY, JUN, JUL, AUG, SEP, OCT
Flowering Period:
AUG, SEP, OCT, NOV
Fruiting Period:
SEP, OCT, NOV
Soil Moisture:
WITHSTANDS SHORT-DURATION SATURATION
Soil Texture:
TOLERANT TO CLAYEY SOILS, TOLERANT TO SILTY SOILS, TOLERANT TO LOAMY
SOILS, TOLERANT TO SANDY SOILS, TOLERANT TO GRAVELLY OR ROCKY SOILS
Soil Fertility:
TOLERANT OVER WIDE FERTILITY RANGE
Parent Material:
TOLERANT OVER WIDE RANGE
Soil pH:
HIGHLY ACIDIC, SLIGHTLY ACIDIC, NEUTRAL
Optimum pH:
SLIGHTLY ACIDIC
Soil Depth:
WIDE RANGE OF SOIL DEPTHS
Salinity:
OBLIGATE TO NON-SALINE (FRESH) SOIL/WATER CONDITIONS
Short-term Biomass:
HIGH
Short-term Pest:
NONE KNOWN
Long-term Biomass:
HIGH
Long-term Pest:
NONE KNOWN
Dominance Characteristics:
DOMINANT
Honeybee Relations:
POLLINATED WITHOUT BEES, NOT HONEY PRODUCING
Parasite Host Potential:
NONE KNOWN
Food for Wildlife/Livestock:
SMALL MAMMALS, LARGE MAMMALS, UPLAND GAME BIRDS, NONGAME BIRDS, CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS, HORSES
Small Mammal Food:
GOOD
Large Mammal Food:
GOOD
Upland Game Birds Food:
EXCELLENT
Waterfowl Food:
FAIR
Nongame Birds Food:
EXCELLENT
Small Mammal Cover:
EXCELLENT
Large Mammal Cover:
EXCELLENT
Upland Game Birds Cover:
EXCELLENT
Waterfowl Cover:
FAIR
Nongame Birds Cover:
EXCELLENT
Toxicity Potential:
LOW
Toxicity Season:
APR, MAY, JUN
Effectiveness Period:
SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM
Raindrop Impact:
MEDIUM
Erosion Hardiness:
HIGH
Ease of Propagation:
HIGH
Soil Binding:
HIGH
Soil Enrichment Potential:
LOW
Nitrogen Fixation Potential:
LOW
Growth Inhibitor Production:
LOW
Source Availability:
COMMON LOCAL RETAIL NURSERY OR SEED OUTLET, SPECIALIZED COMMERCIAL OR WHOLESALE OUTLET
Seed Germination Ratio:
MEDIUM
Reproduction:
SEEDS, RHIZOMES
Seed Dispersal Success Potential:
BIRDS, MAMMALS, GRAVITY, WIND
Seed Establishment Success Potential:
MEDIUM
Cuttings Establishment Success Potential:
LOW
Transplanting Establishment Success Potential:
MEDIUM
Establishment Time Interval:
1 TO 2 YEARS
Recommended Establishment:
SEEDS
Relative Expense:
INEXPENSIVE
Notes:
- A beautiful, high quality, bunch grass.
- One of the 4 primary tall grasses of the bluestem belt, the others being
Big Bluestem, Little Bluestem, and Switchgrass.
- Provides quick ground cover in erodible areas.
- Choice food plants for wildlife/livestock.
- Provides excellent cover for wildlife.
- Germination success and time for establishment will improve with greater
Seedbed preparation and mulching.
Associated Species:
BIG
BLUESTEM
BLACK-EYED
SUSAN
BLACKBERRY/DEWBERRY
SPP.
BLUE GRAMA
BROOMSEDGE
BLUESTEM
CANADA
WILDRYE
CLASPING
CONEFLOWER
CURRANT
SPP.
EASTERN
GAMAGRASS
ENGELMANN
DAISY
GREEN
SPRANGLETOP
HAIRY
GRAMA
HONEY
MESQUITE
ILLINOIS
BUNDLEFLOWER
INDIAN
BLANKET
INLAND SALT
GRASS
LEADPLANT
LITTLE BLUESTEM
PLAINS
COREOPSIS
PRAIRIE
(FERN) ACACIA
PRAIRIE
CORDGRASS
ROUNDHEAD
LESPEDEZA
SENSITIVE
BRIAR, CATCLAW
SESSILE
TICKCLOVER
SIDEOATS
GRAMA
SLENDER
LESPEDEZA
SUNFLOWER
SPP.
SWITCHGRASS
VIRGINIA
TEPHROSIA
VIRGINIA
WILDRYE