Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis)

$15.00

Get a Quote

Prairie Dropseed is widely considered one of the most beautiful native grasses for the home landscape, offering both elegance and ecological value. This warm-season perennial forms dense, arching mounds of fine-textured, emerald-green foliage that resembles a fountain. In late summer, airy flower stems rise above the leaves, producing a unique fragrance that many describe as reminiscent of hot buttered popcorn or cilantro. Native to the tallgrass prairies of the Midwest, it is incredibly long-lived and thrives in full sun and a variety of well-drained soils. Its deep roots make it remarkably drought-tolerant once established. In the fall, the foliage turns a stunning golden-orange, providing winter interest and shelter for birds. The seeds are a favorite of sparrows and other ground-feeding songbirds.

Quick facts

Sun: Full to Partial
Soil moisture: Medium-Wet to Dry
Bloom time: Aug–Oct
Life cycle: Perennial
Notes: Warm-season
Native range: Native to 27 states, including Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska

See the full growing guide and county range map for Prairie Dropseed

Return policy

Due to the nature of seed products, all sales are final. However, if you receive the wrong item or there is an issue with your order, please contact us within 7 days of delivery and we will make it right.

Shipping

Orders are typically processed within 2–5 business days. Shipping times vary based on your location and order size. You will receive tracking information once your order has shipped. For bulk or custom orders, shipping timelines may vary.

Manufacturing

All of our seeds are responsibly sourced and processed to ensure high quality and strong germination rates. We focus on native species adapted to regional conditions, helping support sustainable land management and long-term growth success.

A significant portion of our seed inventory is grown and harvested by our team to ensure the highest quality and consistency.

Get Bulk Discounts

Prices listed are standard. For bulk orders, contact us by phone or email.

Get a Quote Get a Quote

Cheaper from the Producer. Most of the prairie we sell is grown on our farm in the heart of Iowa.

Contact Us Contact Us

Prairie grass and wildflowers blended together to create a beautiful prairie.

Contact Us Contact Us

Feel more connected to your land with native prairie.

Contact Us Contact Us

Discover our Mixes

GROW NATIVE

Support Wildlife

GROW NATIVE

Explore Seeds

GROW NATIVE

What customers say

Over 500
Happy Reviews

Nicholas was very helpful in finding the right cover crop as well as some pollinator mix for our yard.

Ben D.

Extremely knowledgeable staff! I was able to get a specific blend made for an EQIP planting. The plant site had some wetter soil and they were able to create a blend to hit the program requirements and my own land goals for the project

Highly recommend this company!

Jacob H.

Best dealer in Iowa, hands down. Great folks and full of knowledge about everything native!

Drake L.

Being a woman in a man's field they are very respectful and excellent in their service.

Sue M.

Very knowledgeable and easy to work with. They’ve done more than one crp seeding for me as well. They take care of everything and do it right!

Riley S.

These guys treated us like great lifelong neighbors. Nicolas provided great advice on the phone and through emails as my brother and I sorted out upgrading the CPR contract on our century farm. We got great seed, rented a drop seeder from Hocksey and we continue to learn lots from the Prairie Farm podcast.

Matt S.

10/10 would recommend this small town Iowa native seed company. Best in the state! The entire staff has a wealth of knowledge on all things native prairie and have vast experience customizing native seed mixes to fit any situation. We’ve used everything from pure backyard pollinator mixes to native warm season grasses and have had AMAZING success with all things Hoksey!

Justin K.