big bluestem

Andropogon gerardii

Closeup image of big bluster grass seed heads. — © 2018 Mark Horn

Description:

Andropogon gerardii, also known as big bluestem, is a species of warm-season grass that is native to North America. It is a tall, upright grass that typically grows to heights of 4-8 feet (1.2-2.4 meters), though it can sometimes reach heights of up to 12 feet (3.7 meters) in ideal growing conditions.

The leaves of A. gerardii are long and narrow, and they are bluish-green in color. The stem of the grass is also bluish in color, and it is often covered with a waxy coating that gives it a bluish-gray appearance. The inflorescence of A. gerardii is a dense, branched cluster of spikelets that are often purplish or reddish in color.

Big bluestem is an important component of prairie and grassland ecosystems. In addition to its ecological importance, A. gerardii is also used for forage and hay production, and it has been cultivated as an ornamental plant in gardens and landscapes.

Details:

big bluestem

USDA Symbol:	Common Name:	Scientific Name:
ANGE	big bluestem	Andropogon gerardii

ITIS TSN: 40462

Category: Monocot

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Plantae

Subkingdom:

Super Division: Spermatophyta

Division: Magnoliophyta

Subdivision:

Class: Liliopsida

SubClass: Commelinidae

Order: Cyperales

Family: Poaceae

Counties: Adams, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, La Crosse, Lafayette, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Outagamie, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood

Natural Community: Calcareous Fen

Curtis Community: Calcareous Fen, Oak Opening

Coefficient of Conservation: 4

Duration:	Growth Habit:	Native Status:
Perennial	Graminoid	L48(N)CAN(N)

NR40 Listed Plant	Noxious Weed:	Invasive Species (NR40):	Threatened/Endangered:	WI Natural Heritage Index:	Wetland Status
					FAC;FACU

Active Growth Period:

After Harvest Regrowth Rate:

Bloat:

Carbon to Nitrogen Ratio:

Coppice Potential:

Conspicuous Fall Color:

Fire Resistant:

Flower Color:

Conspicuous Flower:

Foliage Color:

Foliage Light Porosity Summer:

Foliage Porosity Winter:

Foliage Texture:

Fruit/Seed Color:

Fruit/Seed Conspicuous:

Growth Form:

Growth Rate:

Height at Base Age (Max):

Height at Maturity: 6.5

Known Alelopath:

Leaf Retention:

Lifespan:

Low Growing Grass:

Re-sproutability:

Shape and Orientation:

Toxicity:

Height (min): 36

Height (max): 108

Root Type:

Leaf Type:

Leaf Arrangement:

Leaf Shape:

Leaf Margin:

Vein Pattern:

Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils:

Adapted to Medium Textured Soils:

Adapted to Fine Textured Soils:

Anaerobic Tolerance:

CaCO3 Tolerance:

Cold Stratification Required:

Drought Tolerance:

Fertility Requirement:

_Fire Tolerance:

Frost Free Days, Minimum: 120

Hedge Tolerance:

Moisture Use: Low

pH (Minimum): 6.5

pH (Maximum): 7.5

Planting Density per Acre, Minimum:

Planting Density per Acre, Maximum:

Precipitation (Minimum): 12

Precipitation (Maximum): 30

Root Depth, Minimum (inches): 20

Salinity Tolerance:

Shade Tolerance:

Temperature, Minimum (°F): -39

Plant Spacing (min):

Plant Spacing (max):

Bloom Period:	Commercial Availability:	Fruit/Seed Abundance:

Fruit/Seed Period Begin:	Fruit/Seed Period End:	Fruit/Seed Persistence:

Propogated by Bare Root:	Propogated by Bulbs:	Propogated by Container:

Propogated by Corms:	Propogated by Cuttings:	Propogated by Seed:

Propogated by Sod:	Propogated by Sprigs:	Propogated by Tubers:

Seeds per Pound:	Seed Spread Rate:	Seedling Vigor:
144240

Small Grain:	Vegetative Spread Rate:	Propagation Treatment:

Days to Stratify:	Direct Sowing Time:

Benefits:

Berry/Nut/Seed Product:	Christmas Tree Product:	Fodder Product:
No	No	Yes

Fuelwood Product:	Lumber Product:	Naval Store Product:
--	No	No

Nursery Stock Product:	Palatable Browse Animal:	Palatable Graze Animal:
No	Medium	High

Palatable Human:	Post Product:	Protein Potential:
No	No	Medium

Pulpwood Product:	Veneer Product:
No	No

Benefits:	Wildlife Food Value:	Wildlife Cover Value:

References:

iNatuarlist Database – Andropogon gerardii
ITIS Database – Andropogon gerardii
Native Plant Network Database – Andropogon gerardii
USDA Plants Database – Andropogon gerardii
WisFlora Database – Andropogon gerardii

Return to Native Plants page