Big Bluestem

Big Bluestem

Andropogon gerardii

Poaceae (Grass Family)

▲ ▼ basal leaves

▲ commencement of flowering stems

▲ mature, flowering plant

Andropogon gerardii: Big Bluestem

Location near campus: in native plant bed toward southeast corner of Master Gardener areas north of Botanical Center Building in Nathanael Greene park at the Botanical Center; in front of wall on north side of drive into the Darr Agricultural Center.

• native warm-season prairie bunchgrass, with about 1/4 inch wide and 12-24 inch long blue-green leaves
• grows 4-10’ tall
• produces 3-5 greenish-brown to reddish-brown or purplish-brown spikes in a digitate panicle at tips and along sides of flowering stems in mid to late summer
• foliage turns orange-brown in winter
• prefers moist, well-drained soils and needs full sun for best growth
• too much water or fertilization will cause weaker stems that will fall over and not remain upright
• native to Missouri