• Pink flowers blossom in the garden of a white two-room cottage.

    Herbert Hoover

    National Historic Site Iowa

Grasses

Big bluestem seedheads cured to a dark brown in late summer.

Big bluestem fills the vast open spaces of the restored prairie.

NPS Photo

Grasslands dominate the natural areas of Herbert Hoover National Historic Site. The restored tallgrass prairie accounts for about 81 of the park's 187 acres. The most abundant prairie grass is big bluestem with Indian grass, switchgrass, little bluestem, side-oats grama, and Canada wild rye completing the grass complex. Visitors may find small patches of Virginia wild rye and slough or cord grass in wet parts of the prairie. The prairie includes about five acres of wet meadow. The remaining area is drier upland habitat.

Botanists call prairie grasses "warm-season" grasses, because they grow abundantly in hot weather. These grasses form their seed heads in late summer and fall. At that time of year, the prairie looks lovely with the tall seed plumes waving high in the breeze.

Find research reports and data »

 
Tall Indian grasses bloom green against a blue sky.
Indian grass
NPS Photo
  • Nature & Science Research Nature & Science Research

    Scientific research builds a strong foundation for the management and protection of natural resources. Read More

  • Nonnative Species Nonnative Species

    Nonnative plants and woody vegetation continue to degrade sections of the prairie. Read More

  • Hoover Fishing Story Hoover Fishing Story

    Pete Hoover, grandson of the 31st President, recalled lessons learned at his grandfather's side. Read More

Did You Know?

Black and white photo of Herbert Hoover in retirement.

In Herbert Hoover’s 31-year retirement from the presidency he never had any Secret Service protection. Not until 1965, one year after Hoover died, was lifetime Secret Service protection awarded to ex-presidents. More...