Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
North America, United States, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Southwestern United States, Texas, Canada, Mexico
Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States
Habitat
meadows, Prairies, Riverbanks, Roadsides, Woods
bottomlands, Depression on prairies, ditches, Floodplains, Riverbanks, stream banks, Swamps
USDA Hardiness Zone
2-7
4-9
Sunset Zone
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Oval or Rounded
Flower Color
Purple
Yellow, Brown
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Blue Green, Burgundy, Bronze
Yellow, Light Yellow, Tan
Leaf Color in Winter
Tan, Sandy Brown
-
Leaf Shape
Grass like
Oval with a pointed tip and fine teeth along their edges
Plant Season
Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Spring
Tolerances
-
Wet Site, Pollution, Soil Compaction
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Medium
Requires a lot of watering, Requires regular watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Prune in the late winter or spring, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Shape and thin as needed
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, No need to fertilize every year
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Aphids, Red blotch, Sawfly Larvae
Plant Tolerance
-
Pollution, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
Flower Petal Number
Single
-
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies
-
Aesthetic Uses
Ground Cover, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Edible Uses
Insignificant
No
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for animals, Prevent Soil Erosion
Erosion control, Wildlife
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Stem
Whole plant
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Food for animals
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Used As Indoor Plant
Insignificant
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Cutflower, Dried Flower/Everlasting, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Wildflower
Feature Plant, Shade Trees
Botanical Name
ANDROPOGON gerardii
BETULA nigra
Common Name
Big Bluestem, Turkey Foot
River Birch
In Hindi
Big Bluestem grass
River Birch
In German
Große Bartgras
Fluss Birch
In French
Barbon de Gérard herbe
Birch river
In Spanish
hierba andropogon grande
river Birch
In Greek
Big BLUESTEM γρασίδι
ποταμός Birch
In Portuguese
Vetiver grande grama
river Birch
In Polish
Big Bluestem trawa
Rzeka Birch
In Latin
Big bluestem herba
Betula
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Lillosida
Magnoliopsida
Family
Poaceae
Betulaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Season and Care of Big Bluestem and River Birch
Season and care of Big Bluestem and River Birch is important to know. While considering everything about Big Bluestem and River Birch Care, growing season is an essential factor. Big Bluestem season is Summer, Fall and Winter and River Birch season is Summer, Fall and Winter. The type of soil for Big Bluestem is Loam, Sand and for River Birch is Clay, Loam, Sand while the PH of soil for Big Bluestem is Neutral, Alkaline and for River Birch is Acidic, Neutral.
Big Bluestem and River Birch Physical Information
Big Bluestem and River Birch physical information is very important for comparison. Big Bluestem height is 38.10 cm and width 152.40 cm whereas River Birch height is 1,220.00 cm and width 1,220.00 cm. The color specification of Big Bluestem and River Birch are as follows:
Big Bluestem flower color: Purple
Big Bluestem leaf color: Green
River Birch flower color: Yellow and Brown
- River Birch leaf color: Green and Light Green
Care of Big Bluestem and River Birch
Care of Big Bluestem and River Birch include pruning, fertilizers, watering etc. Big Bluestem pruning is done Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves and Remove dead or diseased plant parts and River Birch pruning is done Prune in the late winter or spring, Remove dead or diseased plant parts and Shape and thin as needed. In summer Big Bluestem needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water. Whereas, in summer River Birch needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water.