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Andropogon spp.

bluestems

Poaceae

Warm regions of the Americas, Africa, and Asia

Attracts Butterflies Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant

Native to North America

SunFull Sun

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 3–9

Overview

Andropogon spp. is a genus of about 100 warm-season grasses in the family Poaceae, found in grasslands and savannas through the warmer parts of the Americas, Africa, and Asia. Most are clump-forming perennial bunchgrasses 2-8 ft (0.6-2.4 m) tall, with flattened or folded leaf blades that often take on blue-green tones in summer and bronze, copper, or russet colours in autumn. The flowering stalks carry paired or fingered racemes of small spikelets, many fringed with silky white hairs that catch the light, and the seed heads persist on the stems into winter. Big bluestem (A. gerardii) and broomsedge (A. virginicus) are widespread in North American prairies and old fields. As deep-rooted C4 grasses, members of the genus tolerate heat, drought, and poor soil, and they grow most strongly in the warm months. Plants flop or grow open in rich, moist, or shaded ground, and the warm-season habit means they stay dormant and brown well into spring before new growth appears.

Native Range

Native across the warm temperate and tropical Americas, Africa, and Asia, with several species central to the tallgrass prairies of North America. Big bluestem A. gerardii once dominated prairie from the Great Plains east to the Atlantic.

Suggested Uses

Used in prairie and meadow plantings, native gardens, erosion control, and large naturalistic borders, with the autumn foliage and silky seed heads carrying interest into winter. The clumps give cover and seed for birds and serve as larval food for several skipper butterflies. Big bluestem and its relatives are also grown for forage and prairie restoration.

How to Identify

Recognized by upright clumps of warm-season foliage and by flowering stalks that split into two to several finger-like racemes at the top, often clothed in silky white hairs. The blue-green summer blades turn copper to russet in autumn. The paired, hairy racemes and tall tufted habit separate Andropogon spp. from little bluestem Schizachyrium spp., which is smaller and bears its racemes singly.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2' - 8'

Width/Spread1'6" - 3'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

red

orange

brown

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks

Summer Fall

Flowering occurs in late summer and autumn (August-October), with the racemes opening above the foliage and drying to fluffy, pale seed heads. Wind carries the pollen, and the silky-haired seeds persist through autumn and winter. The genus draws few pollinators, as the flowers carry no nectar.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Silvery to purplish

Foliage Description

Green to blue-green

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 Range5.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

sand loam clay rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grow in full sun on a wide range of soils, from sand to clay; the genus tolerates drought, heat, and low fertility once established. Lean, dry soil and open sun keep the clumps upright, while rich or shaded ground makes them flop and open at the center. Watering is rarely needed for established plants. Most perennial species are hardy in USDA zones 3-9, varying with origin. The warm-season habit means plants stay dormant and brown until late spring, greening up only as the soil warms. Burning or cutting back in late winter clears old growth before the new season.

Pruning

Old foliage and seed stalks are cut back to a few inches above the crown in late winter before new growth begins. The dried stems and seed heads stand through winter until that cut. On prairie plantings, periodic burning takes the place of cutting and refreshes the stand.