Schizachyrium scoparium

This plant is a warm-season perennial grass native across much of North America. Dense clumps produce narrow blue-green leaves and upright stems that turn copper, orange, or burgundy late in the season. The flowering branches bear paired spikelets with fine silvery hairs, and mature seed clusters develop a soft feathery appearance. Its foliage feeds skipper and common wood-nymph butterfly caterpillars, and songbirds and small mammals eat the seeds. Dense clumps provide wildlife cover throughout the year. It tolerates drought and poor soil. Photographed in Florida.