Sporobolus heterolepis

Sporobolus heterolepis is an ornamental grass native to the North American central plains. With a very architectural appearance, this perennial thrives in heat and drought. It forms a small clump of ever-changing foliage with a silky texture, turning gold with coppery-orange highlights in autumn, then bronze in winter, dancing in the wind. It chooses the end of summer to launch flowering spikes above its root hairs in a pink-brown colour with an intense fragrance reminiscent of coriander. It is an elegant and delicate perennial, loving the sun, suitable for poor, rocky, or clay soils and drought conditions.

Sporobolus heterolepis belongs to the Poaceae family. It is found from Canada to Texas, passing through Missouri, where it covers vast sun-drenched areas, with its roots deeply embedded in the dry lands of the windswept plains. It forms a fairly low clump, about 30 cm (12in) in all directions, a bit slow to establish but very durable. The foliage is linear, fine, flexible, arching, initially emerald green in spring, golden orange in autumn, and finally, a light bronze in winter. Flowering occurs in August, with open, delicate, quite noticeable panicles of pinkish-brown flowers, also marked with brown, and their spicy fragrance that only certain people can perceive. They are carried by long stems, 90 cm (35in) tall, well above the foliage. It is a long-lived plant that is not invasive.

Sporobolus heterolepis is an ideal ground cover in hot and dry climates and slightly wild areas of the garden. It performs well in rock gardens, on rocky slopes, and in borders. It will be enhanced by mass planting along a path or in the foreground of a flower bed. In a flower bed, for example, associate it with Amsonia hubrichtii, another perennial from Arkansas and Oklahoma with golden asparagus-like foliage in autumn, or Aster ageratoides 'Ezo Murasaki', Aster turbinellus with bright mauve-blue flowers, or even with the astonishing pink cilium of Muhlenbergia capillaris. This grass also grows well in pots.