Beginner
skill rating
Online Garden Tools
Useful videos
Sorghastrum nutans 'Indian Steel' (Indian grass 'Indian Steel')
Comment on a listing
Plant supplier links
- Login to upload a photo
1 hour care
per year
per year
1.6m
Max height
Max height
1m
Max spread
Max spread
2-5 years
To maturity
To maturity
Plant details
Botanical name
Sorghastrum nutans 'Indian Steel'
Other names
Indian grass 'Indian Steel', Wood grass 'Indian Steel', Sorghastrum avenaceum 'Indian Steel', Indiangrass 'Indian Steel'
Genus
Sorghastrum Sorghastrum
Variety or Cultivar
'Indian Steel' _ 'Indian Steel' is an upright, open, clump-forming, perennial grass with erect stems bearing broadly linear, arching, blue-green leaves that turn golden-yellow in autumn and long, narrow, terminal panicles of yellow-brown flowers in late summer and early autumn.
Sorghastrum nutans 'Indian Steel' is: Deciduous
Habit
Clump-forming, Upright
Flower
Yellow-brown in Summer; Yellow-brown in Autumn
Foliage
Blue-green in Spring; Blue-green in Summer; Golden-yellow in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
Pests
Generally pest-free.
Diseases
Generally disease-free.
General care
Pruning
Cut back hard in early spring before new growth begins.
Propagation methods
Division, Seed
Sign up for your FREE ACCOUNT today or login to receive detailed monthly care instructions
Where to grow
Sorghastrum nutans 'Indian Steel' (Indian grass 'Indian Steel') will reach a height of 1.6m and a spread of 1m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Architectural, Beds and borders, City, Cottage/Informal, Drought Tolerant, Gravel, Low Maintenance, Planted in groups, Prairie planting
Cultivation
Grow in moderately fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. Protect from excessive winter wet. Tends to flop in rich, moist soil. Drought tolerant once established. May self-seed so deadhead to prevent unwanted seedlings.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
North, South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
Companion plants
We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant.
Botanical name
Sorghastrum nutans 'Indian Steel'
Other names
Indian grass 'Indian Steel', Wood grass 'Indian Steel', Sorghastrum avenaceum 'Indian Steel', Indiangrass 'Indian Steel'
Genus
Sorghastrum Sorghastrum
Variety or Cultivar
'Indian Steel' _ 'Indian Steel' is an upright, open, clump-forming, perennial grass with erect stems bearing broadly linear, arching, blue-green leaves that turn golden-yellow in autumn and long, narrow, terminal panicles of yellow-brown flowers in late summer and early autumn.
Native to
Garden origin
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump-forming, Upright
Create your free Shoot garden
Create your free SHOOT garden and make a record of the plants in your garden.
Add your own photos, notes, get monthly email reminders on how to care for your plants, and connect with other gardeners. Get started now.
Colour
Flower
Yellow-brown in Summer; Yellow-brown in Autumn
Foliage
Blue-green in Spring; Blue-green in Summer; Golden-yellow in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
Pests
Generally pest-free.
Diseases
Generally disease-free.
General care
Pruning
Cut back hard in early spring before new growth begins.
Propagation methods
Division, Seed
Monthly care advice
Get access to monthly care advice
Create a free SHOOT account and get instant access to expert care advice for this and other plants in your garden.
You'll also receive handy monthly email reminders of what needs doing. Create your free account.
Where to grow
Sorghastrum nutans 'Indian Steel' (Indian grass 'Indian Steel') will reach a height of 1.6m and a spread of 1m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Architectural, Beds and borders, City, Cottage/Informal, Drought Tolerant, Gravel, Low Maintenance, Planted in groups, Prairie planting
Cultivation
Grow in moderately fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. Protect from excessive winter wet. Tends to flop in rich, moist soil. Drought tolerant once established. May self-seed so deadhead to prevent unwanted seedlings.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
North, South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
USDA zones
Zone 9, Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6, Zone 5, Zone 4
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types) | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | North, South, East, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Exposed, Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Hardy (H4) | Tell us... |
Report content or feedback to Shoot
To add ? to your lists,
login to your account or subscribe.
Find out more about plant lists here
or Login
To add notes for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To add images for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To check if this plant is suitable for your garden first login to your account or subscribe.
or Login