• Grouse forage for food in tall prairie grass.grouse image by Scott Dorrett from Fotolia.com
  
  Wildlife managers plant warm season prairie grasses in the Piedmont Uplands in southeastern Pennsylvania, states Audubon Pennsylvania. Upland grass species provide habitat, nesting material, food and winter protection to bird communities, including eastern meadowlarks, grasshopper sparrows, bobolinks, red-winged blackbirds and ring-necked pheasants. The Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences urges homeowners who live in an upland region to plant these warm grass species, in combination with wildflowers, to provide essential resources to birds, deer, rabbits, butterflies and other animals. By planting upland grasses, you will be renewing habitat and food supply destroyed by human practices.
  
  

Big Bluestem

• Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) grass has blue-green blades. In the fall they turn red to purple. Like the other warm season upland grasses, it grows in bunches. The seed heads that grow on top of each blade of big bluestem resemble turkey feet. This species may grow between 5 and 7 feet tall. It can grow in most types of well-drained soils, is drought-tolerant but prefers sunny areas.
  
  

Little Bluestem

• Little bluestem (Andropogon scoparius) has the same coloring scheme as big bluestem. Its seed heads are different, as they resemble small puffs of cotton. This species is extremely drought tolerant but prefers soils that range in pH from 5.5 to 6.5. Little bluestem may grown up to 4 feet high. According to Prairie Resource, little bluestem is the most common grass species found in American upland environments.
  
  

Indian Grass

• Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans) may grow up to 6 feet tall and its green blades turn golden brown in the fall. Its seed heads are long and fluffy, making them favorite additions to flower arrangements. Indian Grass prefers growing in deep, well drained soils and in sunny environments. It is not as drought tolerant as the bluestem varieties.
  
  

Switchgrass

• Although Prairie Resource does not consider switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) to be an upland species, the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council does. The Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences also considers it a beneficial warm species for upland bird communities; birds like quail forage for food in clumps of switchgrass. This grass is ideal for preventing erosion when planted on slopes. It is tolerant of most growing conditions, including drought, heat and a range of sun and drainage conditions. Switchgrass may grow up to 8 feet high. Its seed heads turn a vibrant red in the fall.
  
  

Accompanying Wildflowers

• The Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences recommends planting wildflowers along with warm grass species in upland environments. Suggestions include orange butterfly weed, yellow lance-leaved coreopsis, purple coneflower, yellow false sunflower, wild blue lupine, red bee balm and lavender spiderwort.