Andropogon gerardii

Habitat: dry or wet soil in open woods, prairies, swales, shore, and dry open ground. 

Wildlife value: This plant is a larval host for butterflies, including Common Wood-Nymph (Cercyonis pegala) larvae and various Skipper larvae. Adult Common Wood-Nymph butterflies feed on rotting fruit and flower nectar. Ecologists have used this beautiful grass for prairie restorations and for naturalizing an area for nesting birds and mammals. 

Clump forming. Good for short screen. Cutting it back to the ground in the winter will help maintain its attractive appearance. Resistant to toxin-producing plants (allelopathic) like black walnut, which releases toxins that suppress the growth of plants in its vicinity.