Tall Grass Prairie at Hullett - A Year of Tall Grass

Hullett's Tall Grass Prairie

Hullett has about 11 hectares (27 acres) of native tall grass prairie grasslands for you to come out and explore. These areas are a declining breed. Ontario used to have over a thousand square kilometers of native prairie grasslands, now we have only 3 percent of them left. Located at 40672 Hydro Line Road and 81044 Wildlife Line, the tall grass prairie ecosystem is alive at the Hullett PWA! See below for details on the species of tall grass found in the plantations here.

Postcards of the Tall Grass at Hullett

Winter View of Tall Grass of Wildlife Line

Tall Grass Closeup Hydro Line Road site - Winter

Wildlife Line Tall Grass Pan

Summer Tall Grass - 2 months after Prescribed Burn

Tall Grass Shoots one week after the Burn

Close up of New Growth - one week post burn

Smoky! Prescribed Burn at Hydro Line Road Tall Grass Plots

A 'Ring of Fire' - Hydro Line Road - Prescribed Burn

The After Effects of a Low Complexity Prescribed Burn - Hydro Line Road - April

Key to Species of Tall Grass at Hullett

Big Bluestem in flower Indian Grass in flower

Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) is the predominant grass of our prairie area. It is nicknamed ‘turkey foot’ because its flower clusters are arranged in three spikes that resembles its namesake. This grass grows to a height of 2.5 meters or 8.2 feet. Big Bluestem is easy to identify in a field of tall grass, as the ‘turkey foot’ pattern is simple to pick out. As this species matures, the entire plant turns shades of red, brown and deep purple – this is easily observable as you pan around the entire prairie grassland area. Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans) is another species found within Hullett’s native grasses. Growing to 2 meters or 6.5 feet in height, this type of grass is identified by its brilliant, but small yellow flowers. Mature seed heads of this plant sometimes get so heavy that they bend or droop down under their own weight, hence the Latin ‘nutans’, meaning ‘to nod’. Indian Grass is host to the larvae of the Wood Satyr and Wood Nymph Butterflies (both common at Hullett). The final grass type in our tall grass mix is Switch Grass or Panicum virgatum. This species has a diamond shaped appearance in profile and grows to a height of 2.1 meters or 7 feet. Flowers on this plant are originally purple, but fade to tan with age. The flowers are sparse on the stem (called the inflorescence) and the wiry ‘branches’ are naked most of their length. In winter, Switch Grass turns a straw colour, adding colour to the landscape.

Switch Grass

Tall Grass

Witness the amazing sight and enjoy the soothing sounds when you’re in the middle of a stand of our native tall grass prairie, and a breeze wafts through putting the grasses in motion – it’s pure bliss!

Don’t miss a chance to see this natural wonder. View a real, natural prairie area, right here in your own backyard.