It helps to have an appreciation of what prairie is and one way to develop that appreciation is by using prairie grass in landscaping. Native grasses are perfect for wildflower beds. Native grasses have incredible root systems. Switchgrass can reach a dozen feet below the ground, and big bluestem and Indiangrass go almost as far. Further, most are warm season grasses - they green and grow during summer and ripen in autumn, so they parallel most flower plantings.
Prairie grass makes a beautiful and unusual change from the familiar round of nursery plantings.
Try it - prairie enthusiasts hope you'll like it. Joel Vance is a frequent contributor to the Conservationist. Sources of Prairie Plants Hamilton Seeds and Wildflowers, HC Rt. The Conservation Department's Prairie Day is in mid-May. It's a chance to pick the brains of prairie experts and see an authentic tallgrass prairie in action.