New York Aster Aster sp. This grass grows in tufted bunches with long stalks and may grow to 7 feet or taller. Portions of the shorter, round stems are frequently blue or purple in color. The leaves are rolled into the shape of a tube in the buds and gradually unroll as they emerge. This plant was used by Native Americans to treat digestive problems.
Big bluestem is considered a summer grass.
This stout-stemmed grass can reach up to 10 feet tall, with leaves up to 4 feet long. Each stem is topped by an elongated cluster of small branches. This plant has been used in traditional structures for thatching and also as a fuel. Cord Grass is considered a midsummer to early-fall grass. The following grasses are planted throughout the American Prairie exhibit.