Red October Big Bluestem

Red October is a patented big bluestem selected for an upright habit and a sequence of red foliage color. Green leaves carry red tips through much of the growing season, deepen to burgundy as autumn approaches, and turn scarlet after frost; red flowers and seed heads add another late-season accent. ## Form and Season Intrinsic Perennial Gardens introduced this vegetatively propagated cultivar in 2013. The patent describes a plant about 130–150 cm tall, while the breeder and specialist growers describe flowering plants reaching roughly 5–6 feet. The foliage is finer and the habit more upright than the species, making it useful as a tall focal clump, repeated through a border, or mixed with prairie grasses and perennials. ## Site and Planting Give Red October full sun for the strongest red foliage. Grow it in well-drained soil; big bluestem tolerates a range of soils but establishes slowly and performs best where moisture is available through the growing season. Keep enough room around the clump for its flower stems and winter form. The patent identifies PP 26,283, granted December 29, 2015; no current legal-status claim is implied. [Intrinsic Perennial Gardens](https://www.intrinsicperennialgardens.com/wp-content/uploads/IPG2022_Intros_WEB.pdf) is the breeder, and the [patent document](https://patents.google.com/patent/USPP26283P2/en) describes the cultivar’s selection and color. [NC State Extension](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/andropogon-gerardi/common-name/big-bluestem/) provides species-level growing guidance. ## Maintenance Keep the stems standing through winter for structure, then cut the clump to the ground before new growth starts. Water during establishment and during prolonged dry periods; avoid placing it in deep shade, where tall stems may flop.