tallgrass

Tallgrass refers to grasses that reach substantial mature heights and form the dominant vertical structure of tallgrass prairies, a temperate grassland ecosystem most closely associated with central North America. These grasses commonly exceed one meter (roughly three feet) in height, with taller stands during peak growing seasons. The term also encompasses the ecological communities dominated by such grasses, including a diverse array of forbs and flowering plants that depend on fire and grazing dynamics to maintain biodiversity.

Key tallgrass species include big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), and little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), among others. These grasses often possess deep root systems that store carbon, improve soil structure, and confer resilience to drought and fire. The tallgrass prairie habitat supports a wide range of insects, birds, and small mammals, many of which are adapted to the seasonal cycles of growth and decay.

Historically, tallgrass prairies stretched across a broad region of central North America, from Manitoba and parts of Canada south to Texas and east to the Mississippi River. They were shaped by frequent, low-intensity fires and grazing by large mammals, which helped maintain a diverse plant community and prevented woody encroachment. The ecosystem is characterized by rich soils and high productivity.

Today, tallgrass prairie has been largely reduced by conversion to agriculture and development, leaving only fragments and restored remnants. Conservation and restoration efforts—such as prescribed burning, managed grazing, and reseeding with native grasses and forbs—aim to recover the ecological processes, biodiversity, and soil health associated with tallgrass ecosystems.