This is a tall, perennial, sod-forming grass with broad blue-green blades and a large, golden-brown, plume-like seed head. In the fall, the seed head turns deep orange to purple. It is drought tolerant, growing in full sun to shade, and in dry to moist soil, including sandy, loam, and clay soils. Because of its height (3 to 8 feet) and its tendency to remain erect, it provides a nesting habitat and protective cover for many kinds of birds.