Danthonia spicata

Sizes available: Landscape plug

Basics: zones 3-8, 12" x 12-18", full to part sun to part shade, tan blooms appear in late spring to early summer, likes lean, rocky, well-drained soil and is adaptable to quite a bit of shade

Common name: Poverty Oat Grass

Family: Poaceae

Origin/Distribution: Quebec to British Columbia down into the mountains of Oregon, over to Minnesota and south to the mountains of New Mexico, into Arkansas, continuing south to north Florida, Louisiana, Texas and further south into central Mexico. Native to Maine.

Habitat: open areas, thin woodlands, disturbed sites, open balds, fields, roadsides - present in a variety of forest and grassland species like a guest every hostess wants to invite

More: Larval host for, among others, the Indian Skipper, Hesperia sassacus, which is native to Maine. I first learned about this tough little charmer on a podcast about the native species lawn that was being developed at the Botanic Garden at Cornell University. It is a main component in that project. I have since added it to my gardens in various places and its affable adaptability never ceases to delight me. It has what has been aptly called a "crowded tuft" meaning that old leaves turn tan and curl up, but persist in the crown and act like a baroque frame for the new growth coming through. This is a pioneer species and therefore long-lived in seed banks. Excellent mass planted on a green roof, on a slope for erosion control, or as used at Cornell. However, because it can take some shade, I have been popping it in various open spots in my shadier gardens to see what happens. I will keep you posted. 

Nursery: Landscape plugs from New Moon

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons