Indiangrass Seedling Identification

Identifying native seedlings is hard, and Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans) is no exception. However, this article gives you multiple tools to learn the important things to watch for in Indiangrass seedling identification. The characteristics are listed below but there is also a video where we show what you are looking for and a take-to-the-field guide that you can download and print.

Key Characteristics of Wild Rye Seedlings

• Color – Leaves have a blue-green color, with dull purple stems (not a totally reliable way to identify).
• Shape – Tips of leaves are very spiky in appearance. Tillers have a flattened shape, not very round, hard to roll in between fingers. Also, the nodes on the tillers are hairy.
• Leaves – Leaves have very few hairs on them. Emergent leaves are rolled in appearance, not folded or flat. Indiangrass has a pair of stiff, pointed, clawlike auricles where the leaf blade attaches to the sheath.
• Ligule – When leaf is pulled away from tiller, where sheath and leaf meet, there is usually a stiff woody ligule that will pop out at the junction. It is shaped like the rear sight of a rifle, with 2 ears, one on each side.
• Seed Head – Six to twelve inches long, Has golden/copper color when dry, with short hairs on the spikelets, and long awns at the tips.

Video on Indiangrass Seedling Identification

Elizabeth Steele gives an in-depth look at identifying characteristics of Indiangrass seedlings, while Colt Hamilton takes us to the field to look at some look-a-likes to help you identify this amazing native warm-season grass. This field in this video was established with Panoramic/Plateau herbicide, which has greatly reduced the weed competition. However, with more diverse plantings, this herbicide is not an option, and it becomes more difficult to find and identify Indiangrass seedlings due to the abundance of weeds.

Take-to-The-Field Guide on Indiangrass Identification

Download our Indiangrass Identification Guide

More Help With New Plantings

Other Seedling Identification Help

The following seedling identification guides are also available

• Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) seedling id
• Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans) seedling id
• Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata) seedling id

First Year Weed Control Guides

We have guides for various weed control techniques during the first year of a native planting such as mowing high, using selective herbicides, and grazing. The First-Year Weed Control Overview can help you know which options may be best for your planting.