Clump forming, warm season grass.

Purple stigmas appear during late summer followed by sprays of reddish-purple seed heads.

Turns pale yellow in fall and remains throughout the winter.

The seeds are eaten by ground-feeding song birds.

The grass provides nesting material and cover for a variety of birds.

Larval host of the Delaware Skipper butterfly.

Grows in prairies, bluffs, streambeds and open woods.

New York native.