Prairie cordgrass is the most abundant grass of low floodplains and wetlands in Indiana. It occurs on most soil textures from fine clays to silt loams and is somewhat tolerant of alkaline conditions. Prairie cordgrass grows on wet banks of sluggish streams and around ponds. Prairie cordgrass forms stable communities on mesic sites, but as conditions become dry it is eventually replaced by big bluestem. Although prairie cordgrass renews growth rather late, it grows more rapidly than any of the grasses of the prairie.
Prairie cordgrass has deep rhizomes which allow it to survive fires.
Survival is increased if burns occur during wet seasons because of water present on the soil surface. A fire hazard results when litter of this species is allowed to accumulate. Reports of prairie cordgrass response to fire are limited and variable. Specific fire information was not reported. These fires generally had low to moderate intensities with the exception of the first year when high fuel levels were present.