![]() It tends to go dormant without moisture, so the best appearance is preserved with weekly watering, especially those plants in containers.įountain grass is considered drought tolerant. The plant needs supplemental water in early establishment stages, but thereafter is quite self-sufficient except in severe drought. Water new plants regularly over the summer to establish drought tolerance. Add a layer of organic compost around the root zone to conserve moisture. Backfill the hole with native soil and water thoroughly to fill in any air gaps around the roots. Set the crowns slightly above the soil surface to prevent crown rot. Find a sunny location with well-draining soil, and dig a hole just wide enough for the root ball. They do not tolerate standing water or very alkaline soils. They adapt to various soil conditions, including dry, poor, clay, gritty, sandy, and average soils. These grasses create beautiful waves of color and movement when planted in drifts for a meadow or prairie garden.īluestem grasses perform best in full sun, with at least 6 – 8 hours of direct sunlight per day, although big bluestem can tolerate partial shade. Various cultivars with outstanding color and hardiness qualities are now commonly available in garden centers. ![]() These are warm-season grasses that do most of their growing during the warm summer months and go dormant in late fall to winter. ![]() They form arching, upright clumps that flower in the summer. Otherwise, the two species have very similar cultural requirements and are easy to grow.īluestem grasses are native prairie grasses that are often used for erosion control and restoration plantings. Big bluestem varieties can reach 8 feet high and spread by rhizomes. As the name implies, little bluestem is much smaller than big bluestem and only reaches between 1 and 3 feet high. Try to use a local ecotype if possible when restoring native vegetation in an area.In the nursery trade, bluestem grasses consist mostly of little bluestem ( Schizachyrium scoparium ) and big bluestem ( Andropogon gerardii ). Several varieties of big blue are available from commercial seed producers. Fertilizer is generally not recommended, as it typically promotes weedy competition. The higher rates are generally used for erosion control and grazing. For wildlife (quail) habitat establishment, use the lower rate. Seeding rate for big bluestem ranges from 4 to 12 pounds per acre, depending on future use. It is very important to kill all non-native pasture grasses prior to planting native warm season grasses. A native seed no-till drill may also be used. It is best established by conventional tillage, if possible. In the longleaf pine ecosystem, the perennial big bluestem contributes to the fine flashy fuel needed for the maintenance of the ecosystem.īluestem can be used in the restoration of native vegetation in agricultural or pasture areas. Bobwhite quail and other ground-nesting birds use this clump-forming grass for nesting and forage cover. As with the other bluestems, big blue also provides excellent wildlife habitat. This species is also a good native choice for grazing forage and is very palatable to livestock. Once it has been established, however, it provides excellent stability for sandy areas. Big blue is commonly used in erosion control plantings although it is sometimes slow to get started. However, it can tolerate a wide variety of well-drained soils and typically does well on low fertility sites. “Big blue” as it is commonly called is a climax prairie species. Individual seed heads often have three spikelets that look like a turkey foot. The seed head is coarse and not fluffy as in other bluestems. The rhizomes are short and scaly and the color of the leaves varies from light yellow-green to burgundy. ![]() This species is large and robust as bluestems go, with mature plants commonly reaching 6 to 8 feet in height. It is found from the mid-western short grass prairies to the coastal plain, where it naturally serves as fuel for periodic fire. Big bluestem ( Andropogon gerardii)īig bluestem is a warm-season grass native to the eastern two thirds of the United States. Photo by Sally and Andy Wasowski, Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center. Photos by Jennifer Anderson, USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database.įlowering big bluestem and syrphid fly. States are colored green where the species may be found.Īndropogon gerardii. ![]()
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