Big Blue Stem, Big Bluestem, Turkeyfoot
Appealing in most seasons, Andropogon gerardii (Big Bluestem) is a warm-season perennial grass forming an upright clump of stems with flattened leaves. Emerging blue-green in spring, the foliage matures to green as the season progress, turning rich orange and coppery-red, sometimes with lavender tints, in the fall. Elegant tall flowering stems rise in late summer above the foliage bearing glossy, deep purple, 3-parted, finger-like flower clusters, resembling turkey feet (hence the common name). Perfect for providing height and color to the garden, Big Bluestem is drought-tolerant once established, requires very little care, is virtually disease and pest-free, and provides months of interest. This long-lived architectural grass has a variety of uses, including screening, naturalizing, restoring prairies, and nesting materials for birds and mammals.
| Hardiness |
4 - 9 |
|---|---|
| Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
| Plant Type | Ornamental Grasses |
| Plant Family | Poaceae |
| Common names | Big Bluestem, Bluestem |
| Exposure | Full Sun |
| Season of Interest | Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter |
| Height | 4' - 6' (120cm - 180cm) |
| Spread | 2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm) |
| Spacing | 36" (90cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Low, Average |
| Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Dried Arrangements, Showy |
| Native Plants | United States, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Northeast, Midwest, Southeast, Southwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Colorado, Montana, Utah |
| Tolerance | Drought, Deer, Dry Soil |
| Attracts | Birds, Butterflies |
| Garden Uses | Banks And Slopes, Beds And Borders |
| Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow |
| Hardiness |
4 - 9 |
|---|---|
| Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
| Plant Type | Ornamental Grasses |
| Plant Family | Poaceae |
| Common names | Big Bluestem, Bluestem |
| Exposure | Full Sun |
| Season of Interest | Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter |
| Height | 4' - 6' (120cm - 180cm) |
| Spread | 2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm) |
| Spacing | 36" (90cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Low, Average |
| Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Dried Arrangements, Showy |
| Native Plants | United States, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Northeast, Midwest, Southeast, Southwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Colorado, Montana, Utah |
| Tolerance | Drought, Deer, Dry Soil |
| Attracts | Birds, Butterflies |
| Garden Uses | Banks And Slopes, Beds And Borders |
| Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow |
How many Andropogon gerardii (Big Bluestem) do I need for my garden?
| Plant | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|
| Andropogon gerardii (Big Bluestem) | N/A | Buy Plants |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
Join now and start creating your dream garden!
