Big Bluestem

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Andropogon gerardii Common Names include Big Bluestem, Tall Bluestem, Turkeyfoot Big Bluestem grass is a tall, perennial, warm-season grass that is the star of tallgrass prairies t hat, while now only prairie remnants remain, once graced large parts of the Great Plains. Cattle are known to love it, often overgrazing. Unlike migratory bison, a major traditional browser of Big Bluestem, domestic cattle will graze it down until it is unable to persist in their pasture. Its foliage provides cover for bird and small animals, and nesting materials for native bees. It provides seed for birds, and is notable as a preferred nesting site for Sedge Wrens, Western Meadowlarks, Grasshopper Sparrows, and Henslow's Sparrows. It is additionally a larval host for the Delaware Skipper Buttery, and the Dusted Skipper Butterfly. Big Bluestem's clumping stems are adorned with flattened leaves that change color with the seasons. In spring, the leaves are a gray to blue-green. In summer, they shift to a bright green with reddish accents. After the frost in autumn, they then transform into a stunning reddish bronze with hints of lavender. Flowering stems appear in late-summer, displaying purplish, finger-like clusters of flowers that resemble turkey feet. Big Bluestem thrives in average, well-drained soils under full sunlight. While it prefers moist, fertile soils, it also can handle dry, less fertile environments, though it will reach taller heights with moister soils. A strong root system may take some time to establish; however, once it finds its footing, it has excellent drought resistance and is a breeze to care for. The best practice is to cut the stems down to the ground in late winter before new shoots begin to appear. When planted in ideal conditions, this grass will often self-seed. BONAP MAPHeight: 4’-6'Spread: 2’-3'Bloom: September-FebruaryLight: Full SunWater: Low-MediumZone: 4-9Origin: North America Show more