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Bluestem grass (Andropogon)
Also known as : Broomsedge
Bluestem grass are grasses that are frequently used to control erosion. Many of these annual or perennial grasses display obvious bristles, which aids in their identification. Bluestem grass generally have narrow leaves and small blooms. When cultivated, they are often used for prairie planting and city gardens as they are easy to maintain.
Lifespan
Perennial
Plant Type
Herb/Vine
Key Facts About Bluestem grass
Feedback
Attributes of Bluestem grass
Leaf type
Deciduous
Scientific Classification of Bluestem grass
Distribution of Bluestem grass
Feedback
Distribution Map of Bluestem grass
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
How to Grow and Care for Bluestem grass
Feedback
Bluestem grass requires full sun and well-drained soil to thrive, tolerating a range of soil types albeit preferring slightly acidic conditions. Water needs are moderate, with bluestem grass being drought-tolerant once established. Common challenges include foliar diseases in humid conditions and potential pest infestations like aphids. Seasonally, bluestem grass benefits from reduced watering in winter and early spring trimming to encourage new growth. Summer may require increased watering, and autumn is optimal for division and transplantation.
Exploring the Bluestem grass Plants
Feedback
6 most common species：
Broomsedge bluestem
Broomsedge bluestem gets its name because it was once used to make brooms. However, this clumpy perennial is not a sedge, but actually in the grass family. It prefers to colonize in barren areas and is often used for prairie restoration. It is well-known for the copper-colored leaves that remain on the plant from the preview years’ growth.
Big Bluestem
Big Bluestem (*Andropogon gerardii*) is a tall perennial grass native to North America that once dominated the prairie of the American Midwest. Its foliage changes color seasonally, and it is used as an ornamental grass and to rehabilitate prairie land.
Bushy bluestem
Bushy bluestem (Andropogon glomeratus) is an ornamental grass that will grow from 91 to 183 cm tall. It blooms from fall to winter with silvery pink to white flowers. Blossoms are club-shaped panicles. Thrives in full sun with moist soil. Cut clumps to the ground after blooming to prevent re-seeding and encourage new growth in spring.
Splitbeard Bluestem
Splitbeard Bluestem (Andropogon ternarius) is a wild grass that grows in tufts across the eastern and southern United States. It is found both on forest floors and prairie lands, and also roots well in disturbed habitats. Cows regularly graze on it, and its bunches are used as nesting grounds for bobwhite quail.
Elliott's bluestem
A species of perennial bunchgrass, elliott's bluestem (Andropogon gyrans) is unassuming and rust-colored for much of the year. It prefers moist woodlands, sand-hills, fields, and generally disturbed areas. Because its foliage persists throughout the winter, it is common to see small animals sheltering in its vicinity.
Big bluestem 'Blackhawks'
Big bluestem 'Blackhawks' is a striking ornamental grass named for its characteristic of turning almost black in fall. The cultivar's name points to its origin in Illinois, home of the Chicago Blackhawks hockey team. This color change sets it apart from the parent big bluestem, which doesn't feature such a significant color shift. Big bluestem 'Blackhawks' is mainly grown for its ornamental foliage, but it also features purple flowers in summer.
More Popular Genus
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Dracaena
Dracaena are popular house plants that are easy to grow. They can tolerate low-light conditions and require little watering. Their leaves range from variegated to dark green. Their characteristic traits include woody stems that grow slowly but offer a striking appearance for small spaces such as apartments or offices.
Fig trees
Fig trees have been cultivated in many regions for their fruits, particularly the common fig, F. carica. Most of the species have edible fruits, although the common fig is the only one of commercial value. Fig trees are also important food sources for wildlife in the tropics, including monkeys, bats, and insects.
Brambles
Brambles are members of the rose family, and there are hundreds of different types to be found throughout the European countryside. They have been culturally significant for centuries; Christian folklore stories hold that when the devil was thrown from heaven, he landed on a bramble bush. Their vigorous growth habit can tangle into native plants and take over.
Maples
The popular tree family known as maples change the color of their leaves in the fall. Many cultural traditions encourage people to watch the colors change, such as momijigari in Japan. Maples popular options for bonsai art. Alternately, their sap is used to create maple syrup.
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of flowering fruit trees that includes almonds, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and apricots. These are often known as "stone fruits" because their pits are large seeds or "stones." When prunus trees are damaged, they exhibit "gummosis," a condition in which the tree's gum (similar to sap) is secreted to the bark to help heal external wounds.
Nightshades
Nightshades is a large and diverse genus of plants, with more than 1500 different types worldwide. This genus incorporates both important staple food crops like tomato, potato, and eggplant, but also dangerous poisonous plants from the nightshade family. The name was coined by Pliny the Elder almost two thousand years ago.
Roses
Most species of roses are shrubs or climbing plants that have showy flowers and sharp thorns. They are commonly cultivated for cut flowers or as ornamental plants in gardens due to their attractive appearance, pleasant fragrance, and cultural significance in many countries. The rose hips (fruits) can also be used in jams and teas.
Oaks
Oaks are among the world's longest-lived trees, sometimes growing for over 1,000 years! The oldest known oak tree is in the southern United States and is over 1,500 years old. Oaks produce an exceedingly popular type of wood which is used to make different products, from furniture and flooring to wine barrels and even cosmetic creams.
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About
Key Facts
Distribution
How To Care
All Species
More Genus
Bluestem grass
Andropogon
Also known as: Broomsedge
Bluestem grass are grasses that are frequently used to control erosion. Many of these annual or perennial grasses display obvious bristles, which aids in their identification. Bluestem grass generally have narrow leaves and small blooms. When cultivated, they are often used for prairie planting and city gardens as they are easy to maintain.
Lifespan
Perennial
Plant Type
Herb/Vine
Key Facts About Bluestem grass
Feedback
Attributes of Bluestem grass
Leaf type
Deciduous
Scientific Classification of Bluestem grass
Distribution of Bluestem grass
Feedback
Distribution Map of Bluestem grass
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
How to Grow and Care for Bluestem grass
Feedback
Bluestem grass requires full sun and well-drained soil to thrive, tolerating a range of soil types albeit preferring slightly acidic conditions. Water needs are moderate, with bluestem grass being drought-tolerant once established. Common challenges include foliar diseases in humid conditions and potential pest infestations like aphids. Seasonally, bluestem grass benefits from reduced watering in winter and early spring trimming to encourage new growth. Summer may require increased watering, and autumn is optimal for division and transplantation.
Exploring the Bluestem grass Plants
Feedback
6 most common species：
Broomsedge bluestem
Broomsedge bluestem gets its name because it was once used to make brooms. However, this clumpy perennial is not a sedge, but actually in the grass family. It prefers to colonize in barren areas and is often used for prairie restoration. It is well-known for the copper-colored leaves that remain on the plant from the preview years’ growth.
Big Bluestem
Big Bluestem (*Andropogon gerardii*) is a tall perennial grass native to North America that once dominated the prairie of the American Midwest. Its foliage changes color seasonally, and it is used as an ornamental grass and to rehabilitate prairie land.
Bushy bluestem
Bushy bluestem (Andropogon glomeratus) is an ornamental grass that will grow from 91 to 183 cm tall. It blooms from fall to winter with silvery pink to white flowers. Blossoms are club-shaped panicles. Thrives in full sun with moist soil. Cut clumps to the ground after blooming to prevent re-seeding and encourage new growth in spring.
Splitbeard Bluestem
Splitbeard Bluestem (Andropogon ternarius) is a wild grass that grows in tufts across the eastern and southern United States. It is found both on forest floors and prairie lands, and also roots well in disturbed habitats. Cows regularly graze on it, and its bunches are used as nesting grounds for bobwhite quail.
Show More Species
More Popular Genus
Feedback
Dracaena
Dracaena are popular house plants that are easy to grow. They can tolerate low-light conditions and require little watering. Their leaves range from variegated to dark green. Their characteristic traits include woody stems that grow slowly but offer a striking appearance for small spaces such as apartments or offices.
Fig trees
Fig trees have been cultivated in many regions for their fruits, particularly the common fig, F. carica. Most of the species have edible fruits, although the common fig is the only one of commercial value. Fig trees are also important food sources for wildlife in the tropics, including monkeys, bats, and insects.
Brambles
Brambles are members of the rose family, and there are hundreds of different types to be found throughout the European countryside. They have been culturally significant for centuries; Christian folklore stories hold that when the devil was thrown from heaven, he landed on a bramble bush. Their vigorous growth habit can tangle into native plants and take over.
Maples
The popular tree family known as maples change the color of their leaves in the fall. Many cultural traditions encourage people to watch the colors change, such as momijigari in Japan. Maples popular options for bonsai art. Alternately, their sap is used to create maple syrup.
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of flowering fruit trees that includes almonds, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and apricots. These are often known as "stone fruits" because their pits are large seeds or "stones." When prunus trees are damaged, they exhibit "gummosis," a condition in which the tree's gum (similar to sap) is secreted to the bark to help heal external wounds.
Nightshades
Nightshades is a large and diverse genus of plants, with more than 1500 different types worldwide. This genus incorporates both important staple food crops like tomato, potato, and eggplant, but also dangerous poisonous plants from the nightshade family. The name was coined by Pliny the Elder almost two thousand years ago.
Roses
Most species of roses are shrubs or climbing plants that have showy flowers and sharp thorns. They are commonly cultivated for cut flowers or as ornamental plants in gardens due to their attractive appearance, pleasant fragrance, and cultural significance in many countries. The rose hips (fruits) can also be used in jams and teas.
Oaks
Oaks are among the world's longest-lived trees, sometimes growing for over 1,000 years! The oldest known oak tree is in the southern United States and is over 1,500 years old. Oaks produce an exceedingly popular type of wood which is used to make different products, from furniture and flooring to wine barrels and even cosmetic creams.
Your Ultimate Guide to Plants
Identify grow and nurture the better way!
17,000 local species +400,000 global species studied
Nearly 5 years of research
80+ scholars in botany and gardening
Continue reading in our app - it's better
A database of 400000+ plants
unlimited guides at your fingertips...
unlimited guides at your fingertips...
