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Anatherum tenuispatheum

maritime bushy bluestem

Poaceae

Southeastern United States coastal plain

Deer Resistant

Native to North America

SunFull Sun

WaterHigh

HardinessZones 7–10

Overview

Anatherum tenuispatheum, maritime bushy bluestem, is a warm-season perennial bunchgrass in the grass family reaching 2-4 feet (60-120 cm) tall and 1-2 feet (30-60 cm) wide. Stems grow erect to slightly spreading and branch in the upper portion, producing dense clusters of fluffy, white-hairy flower heads partly enclosed by narrow leaf-like spathes. Foliage forms a basal tuft of flat to folded blades 8-20 inches (20-50 cm) long and about 0.1-0.2 inch (3-5 mm) wide, green through the growing season and turning copper to reddish-brown after frost. It occupies moist to seasonally wet ground in coastal flatwoods, ditches, and pond margins, tolerating brackish influence near the coast. The plant flowers in late summer and fall, and the seed heads persist into winter. Growth is clump-forming rather than running from rhizomes, so individual tufts enlarge slowly over several seasons. Maritime bushy bluestem withstands periodic flooding and salt spray but declines in deep shade and on droughty upland sand. It is grown in rain gardens, pond edges, and coastal restoration plantings on wet or brackish ground.

Native Range

Anatherum tenuispatheum is native to the southeastern United States, ranging along the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains from the Carolinas south through Florida and west to Texas. It also extends into the Caribbean and parts of Mexico and Central America. Populations concentrate in low, moist coastal habitats.

Suggested Uses

Maritime bushy bluestem is planted in rain gardens, detention basins, and pond and ditch margins where soils stay moist. It is used in coastal and wetland restoration for erosion control and wildlife cover. The seed heads are a winter food source for seed-eating birds.

How to Identify

Identify maritime bushy bluestem by its tufted, upper-branching stems topped with dense, cottony clusters of paired flower spikelets wrapped in narrow reddish spathes. The flattened basal blades are 0.1-0.2 inch (3-5 mm) wide with a prominent midrib and rough margins. After frost the whole clump fades to copper-brown, and the white-hairy seed heads catch the light through winter. Its preference for wet ground and compact, brushy seed clusters separate it from upland bluestems.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2' - 4'

Width/Spread1' - 2'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks

Summer Fall

Flowering occurs from late summer into autumn, roughly August through October. The inflorescences open as silvery, hair-covered tufts that release wind-borne seed over several weeks. Spent heads remain on the plant through winter, weathering to gray.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

Green turning copper to reddish-brown in fall

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

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

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

clay loam sand

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

High

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grow maritime bushy bluestem in full sun in moist to wet soil, including clay, loam, and sandy substrates that hold seasonal moisture. It tolerates standing water for short periods and accepts brackish conditions near the coast. Established clumps need little supplemental water but decline on dry upland sand. The plant grows in USDA zones 7-10 and resprouts from the crown after winter dormancy. It has few pest or disease problems, though dense plantings on poorly drained sites can develop foliar rust in humid summers. No fertilizer is required on average soils.

Pruning

Cut the dormant clump back to 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) in late winter before new growth begins. Annual cutting removes weathered foliage and keeps the tuft dense. Burning is used in restoration settings to renew stands and reduce thatch.

Pruning Schedule

winter