Skip to main content

Plant A Patch: Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)

 

Native grasses add a dramatic flair to the winter garden and Big Bluestem is one of the best. Six to eight feet taller at maturity, Big Bluestem is perfect for naturalizing, as a focal point or in the back of the border, Big Bluestem is easy to grow in almost any sunny location with well-drained soil. Although it can be slow to establish, once settled in, it is extremely drought tolerant. Big Bluestem has an extensive root system and is an excellent choice for erosion control. The upright stem clumps are greyish green in the spring, green with a red cast in summer and reddish bronze after the first frost. Late summer/early fall also brings interesting flower clusters.