Anatherum spp.
new world bluestems
The Americas (North, Central, and South America)
Overview
Anatherum spp. is a genus of warm-season perennial grasses in the grass family, native to the Americas and recently separated from the closely related bluestems of the genus Andropogon spp.. Plants form upright clumps of narrow, flat or folded leaf blades, green to blue-green in summer, that turn shades of orange, copper, and bronze after frost and hold their color through winter. Flowering stems rise 2 to 7 feet (0.6 to 2.1 m) tall in late summer and fall, branching into paired, finger-like clusters covered in silky white hairs that catch the light and carry the small seeds. The clumps stand through winter, giving cover and seed for birds, and the foliage is a larval food plant for several skipper butterflies. The genus tolerates poor, dry soil but can flop in rich ground or shade, and some species spread by seed into open ground.
Native Range
Anatherum spp. is native to the Americas, ranging through North, Central, and South America, with several species in the grasslands and open woods of the eastern and southern United States. Plants grow on prairies, savannas, roadsides, old fields, and other open, sunny ground. Many species colonize poor and disturbed soils.Suggested Uses
Grown in prairie and meadow plantings, naturalistic borders, and erosion control on dry banks, and used in habitat gardens for birds and butterflies. The fall color and winter seed heads extend interest into the cold months. Plants are spaced 18 to 36 inches (45 to 90 cm) apart in drifts.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height2' - 7'
Width/Spread1' - 3'
Bloom Information
The flowering and seed heads appear in late summer and fall, broadly August to October. Branched clusters of silky-haired flowers open at the stem tips and mature into fluffy, wind-borne seeds. The dried heads and bronze foliage hold through winter until growth resumes in spring.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
silvery to tanFoliage Description
green to blue-green, orange-bronze in fallGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Plants grow in full sun and a wide range of soils, including dry, sandy, rocky, and poor ground, and tolerate heat, drought, and humidity once established. Rich soil, shade, and heavy watering cause the clumps to flop open. Watering is rarely needed after the first season. The clumps are left standing through winter for color and wildlife and are cut back to a few inches in late winter before new growth begins. Plants self-seed and may spread where the ground is open, so seedlings are removed where unwanted.Pruning
Pruning consists of cutting the clump back to 3 to 4 inches (8 to 10 cm) in late winter or early spring before new shoots emerge. Old clumps that die out in the center are lifted and divided in spring. No other pruning is needed.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 3 gallons