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Andropogon glomeratus
bushy bluestem
Eastern and southeastern North America — from New York south to Florida and west to Texas, in wet meadows and ditches
Deer Resistant
Native to North America
Overview
Andropogon glomeratus is bushy bluestem in the Poaceae family — a wet-meadow native grass with very different seed heads from its prairie cousin, growing 36-60 inches (90-150 cm) tall and 18-24 inches (45-60 cm) wide. The species name 'glomeratus' means 'clustered into a ball', describing the dense, bushy terminal seed clusters that look like silvery-white to copper bottlebrushes — completely different from the open three-parted turkey-foot of A. gerardii. The bushy clusters glow when backlit by low autumn sun. Green upright foliage through summer turns copper-orange to russet in fall. Unlike the dry-prairie A. gerardii, bushy bluestem is a wet-soil specialist — growing in moist meadows, ditches, and pond margins. The wetter conditions produce faster, more vigorous growth. Warm-season grass. Hardy to zone 5 — less cold-hardy than A. gerardii (zone 3). Acidic to neutral moist soil supports vigorous growth.
Native Range
Andropogon glomeratus is native to eastern and southeastern North America — from New York south to Florida and west to Texas, in wet meadows and ditches.Suggested Uses
Used in rain gardens, wet meadows, pond margins, and naturalized wet areas. The wet-soil Andropogon spp. — fills the niche that dry-prairie A. gerardii cannot. The bushy backlit fall seed heads are memorable.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height3' - 5'
Width/Spread1'6" - 2'
Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years
Bloom Information
Seed heads from September through November. The bushy clusters backlit by autumn sun are the primary display.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Silvery-white to copper, in dense bushy terminal clusters — very different from the open turkey-foot of A. gerardiiFoliage Description
Green, narrow, uprightGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 5-12 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
Plant in full sun to partial shade. Moist to wet, acidic to neutral soil. Not drought-tolerant. All growth is cut to 6 inches in late winter. Hardy to zone 5.Pruning
Foliage stays standing through winter for seed head display. All growth is cut to 6 inches in late February-March.Pruning Schedule
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early spring