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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
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 — 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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F
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early spring