Big bluestem has come to represent the North American prairie.
Big bluestem is a warm-season grass that greens up during the warmth of late spring.
The fall color is representative of the diverse prairie where the range of colors is remarkable.
Credit: Ian Adams
The three-parted seed heads resemble a turkey foot, making it easy to identify the plant.
Where to Plant Big Bluestem
Plant big bluestem inUSDA Hardiness Zones3-9.
This prairie plant grows in sunny areas and will adapt to clay, loam, and sandy soils.
Credit: Dan Piassick
Plant at the depth grown in the pots.
This plant forms clumps and does self-sow when without competition from other prairie plants.
It is easy to grow from seeds or transplants.
Credit: John Reed Forsman
Soil and Water
Big bluestem isadaptable to sand, loam, and clay soilsand drought tolerant.
Temperature and Humidity
Big bluestem handles temperature extremes well, and is adaptable to varying humidity levels.
Fertilizer
Fertilization is not necessary for big bluestem.
Credit: Greg Ryan
Its extensive root system is able to find all the nutrients this grass needs to thrive.
Pruning
Cut back to 4 inches in late winter to early spring, before new growth appears.
Otherwise, this grass has no significant disease or pest problems.
Regional forms of big bluestem should be used when available.
Brushy Bluestem
Brushy bluestem (Andropogon glomeratus) will tolerate overwatering.
In the fall the plant is showy with fluffy, white spires of silky white flowers.
In Texas, winter leaf color is coppery orange.
The plants grow 5 to 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide.
Thisgrass also creates useful habitat for birdsand butterflies and has high deer resistance.
Grow in sun and moist soils.
Zones 3-9
Splitbeard Bluestem
Splitbeard bluestem (Andropogon ternarius) freely seeds wherever it is grown.
Think twice before planting as it can easily overrun the garden.
It is often grown in masses, its silvery white tufts catching the light.
The plant grows to 2 feet without supplemental water but can reach 4 feet.
It works well as a meadow grass on sandy soils.
Compatible prairie grasses like Indian grass and perennials like New England aster create helpful competition and a balanced planting.
Blue-green summer foliage turns golden in fall.
The remarkable blue color tinged with pink creates demand for this plant.
Achieve a feeling of the prairie with this shorter grass.
Reddish-bronze in fall, the rigid clumps remain upright for most of the winter.
It grows 3 to 6 feet high and up to 18 inches wide.
