Andropogon gerardii (Big bluestem)

This is the signature grass of the tall grass prairie (one of the most endangered native ecosystems on earth) but it is also native to New York and most parts of the U.S. Up to 7 feet tall, deep-rooted and tough as nails, this grass makes a dramatic accent in an Eastern garden and can be used instead of tall non-native grasses to provide texture and height. Use as a specimen plant or as the backbone of a tall meadow. Prefers full sun and can handle a range of soil types. A late season grass, it starts growing in May and increases in height steadily till August when it produces spikes of purple-brown flowers.