Sideoats Grama
Bouteloua curtipendula
Soft motion in every breeze and seed for the birds, on a 1.5–2.5 ft-tall native grass.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Wisconsin · Zones 3–5
Native Ornamental Grasses in Wisconsin
Native grasses and sedges that bring movement, winter structure, and bird seed — the matrix that ties a planting together. For Wisconsin, the right natives are shaped by Northern forest, driftless prairie & oak savanna and a cold continental climate. Every species below, from Sideoats Grama and Little Bluestem to the rest of the list, is genuinely native to Wisconsin and the wider flora of the Midwest and hardy through zones 3–5. Native grasses are the connective tissue of a natural planting, weaving between the flowers, holding the soil, and standing handsome through the whole winter. Warm-season grasses want full sun and lean soil and green up late, so don't give up on them in May. Cut everything back to a hand's height in late winter, just before new growth, and that's the entire job.
The plants
7 native species for Wisconsin
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 3–5 · see this collection in other states.
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Warm-season grass turning blue-green to copper in fall and holding its form all winter, cold-hardy to zone 3.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Fall color
Indian Grass
Sorghastrum nutans
Movement in summer, bronze-gold plumes color in fall — a native grass that holds all winter, 4–7 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 4–7 ft
- Fall color
Pennsylvania Sedge
Carex pensylvanica
A 6–12 in-tall native grass that knits the bed together and feeds seed-eaters.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 6–12 in
- Foliage
Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum
Summer texture, airy pink-gold panicles autumn color, and winter standing presence on a 3–6 ft-tall native grass.
- Full–part sun
- Dry to wet
- 3–6 ft
- Fall color
Big Bluestem
Andropogon gerardii
A native grass that glows bronze-purple seed heads and stands through winter, 4–7 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry to wet
- 4–7 ft
- Fall color
Prairie Dropseed
Sporobolus heterolepis
A native grass that glows fine emerald to amber and stands through winter, 2–3 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Fall color
Sourcing
Where to find these in Wisconsin
Seeds & live plants on Amazon
Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.
Browse on AmazonSome links here are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The surest source of locally-adapted stock is a native-plant nursery or a native plant society sale in your area.