Big Bluestem Ornamental Grass

Big bluestem is a native, warm-season bunchgrass whose upright stems and three-pronged seed heads bring prairie scale to a landscape. Its blue-green leaves turn russet, copper, or red-orange in fall, while the flowering stems hold their structure into the cooler season. ## Landscape Use and Seasonal Interest Andropogon gerardii usually forms a narrow, upright clump, with published mature heights ranging from about 4 to 10 feet and a spread commonly around 2–3 feet. Flowering spikes appear from midsummer into fall and resemble a turkey’s foot. Use it in a meadow, naturalistic border, screen, mass planting, or on a slope where its fibrous roots help hold soil. It is native across much of North and Central America and supports butterfly larvae. ## Siting and Soil Plant in full sun; shade can make stems floppy. Big bluestem accepts a range of soils, including clay and sand, and grows best with good drainage and moderate moisture. It can tolerate occasional wetness and dry periods after establishment. Avoid excess fertilizer or water that encourages weak stems. ## Maintenance Leave the standing foliage and seed heads through winter for seasonal structure, then cut stems back near the ground before new growth begins. [NCSU Extension Plant Toolbox](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/andropogon-gerardi/common-name/big-bluestem/) · [Missouri State University](https://ag.missouristate.edu/PBTrewatha/big-bluestem.htm) · [Missouri Botanical Garden landscape guide](https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/Portals/0/Shaw%20Nature%20Reserve/PDFs/horticulture/MSD/MSD.pdf)