The Whimsical Ground Cover That'll Add A Touch Of Elegance And Fragrance To Your Yard

Are you looking for the perfect low-maintenance ground cover to add to your garden beds, which is both attractive and fragrant? If you're not a fan of flowering ground covers, then maybe you'd prefer a highly ornamental one with stunning foliage, instead. Prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) is a whimsical, native plant mainly found in the Great Plains, the Midwest, and snaking along railroad tracks throughout the country.

Its common name comes from the plant's habit of releasing its mature seeds in the fall, gently dropping them to the ground as the colder weather hits. The resulting plant is a fine-textured ornamental grass that grows in soft, arching mounds that sway with the breeze, making it a subtly moving and elegant ground cover for any garden.

On hot summer days, prairie dropseed also adds a different kind of fragrance to your yard than the usual sweet floral scents. When the temperature rises it releases a scent that has been likened to both cilantro and buttered popcorn. So, whether you're filling gaps in your garden or creating a flowing, meadow-like border, prairie dropseed is a ground cover that can add both a touch of sophistication, and a point of scented difference to your yard.

Prairie dropseed is proof that not all ground covers have to be showy with bright-colored blooms. Its arching, clump-forming growth creates a soft carpet of fine green foliage during spring and summer, while its delicate pink and brown-tinted flower stalks add light vertical interest without bulk. Come fall, those same stalks turn a rich amber-gold, giving your landscape a warm, natural glow.

For gardeners aiming to balance beauty with practicality, prairie dropseed delivers on both. It resists deer, is a drought tolerant ground cover, and thrives in poor soil. Because it grows slowly and stays put, it's a great choice for areas where you want long-lasting coverage without the hassle of constant upkeep.

You can also plant it en masse for a meadow-inspired effect, or intersperse it with wildflowers and other natives for a prairie-style garden. Low-key and low-maintenance, prairie dropseed is an understated ground cover that brings softness and structure to your yard. It can even handle light foot traffic, so you could use it as a lawn substitute.

Growing prairie dropseed is surprisingly simple, even if you haven't tried growing ornamental grasses before, though it will require some patience. This hardy perennial is ideal for USDA Zones 3 through 9 and can handle temperature extremes with ease.

Start by choosing a location that gets at least six or more hours of direct sunlight a day as prairie dropseed thrives in full sun. It should also be planted in a spot with well-drained soil and, if transplanting, space the grasses about 2 to 3 feet apart to give them room to mature. Don't worry if these grasses have a slow start, they can take up to four years to reach their full size.

Once it's settled, prairie dropseed needs little attention and is even incredibly drought tolerant, so it will only need the occasional watering and a trim of the dead foliage in early spring before the new growth appears. When grown alongside other low-maintenance-ground covers and flowering plants, prairie dropseed offers a soft, whimsical texture paired with delicate movement and a warm, subtle fragrance, bringing effortless elegance and charm to your yard season after season.