Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Grass
  
Broadleaf Evergreen
  
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
  
Australia
  
Types
Not Available
  
Acacia retinodes retinodes, Acacia retinodes uncifolia
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
meadows, Prairies, Riverbanks, Roadsides, Woods
  
open forests
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
2-7
  
8-11
  
AHS Heat Zone
7 - 1
  
Not Available
  
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
  
Not Available
  
Habit
Clump-Forming
  
Oval/Rounded
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Purple
  
Yellow
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Not Available
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
Brown
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
  
Blue Green, Gray Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
  
Blue Green, Gray Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Blue Green, Burgundy, Bronze
  
Blue Green, Gray Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Tan, Sandy Brown
  
Blue Green, Gray Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Grass like
  
Long Linear
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Very Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
  
Spring, Summer, Indeterminate
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Not Available
  
Drought, Salt
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Container, Ground
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings
  
Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Low
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Medium
  
Allow soil to be completely dry in between waterings
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Xeric/Desert, Drought Tolerant
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Adequately
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun
  
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
  
Prune after flowering
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
  
Red spider mite
  
Plant Tolerance
Not Found
  
Drought, Salt
  
Flowers
Yes
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
Yes
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
No
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
Yes
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies
  
Not Available
  
Allergy
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Ground Cover, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
  
Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Insignificant
  
No
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for animals, Prevent Soil Erosion
  
Windbreak
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Stem
  
Flowers, Seeds
  
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Food for animals
  
Used as a dye
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Insignificant
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Cutflower, Dried Flower/Everlasting, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Wildflower
  
Mixed Border, Screening, Wind Break
  
Botanical Name
ANDROPOGON gerardii
  
Acacia retinodes
  
Common Name
Big Bluestem, Turkey Foot
  
Ever-blooming Wattle, Silver Wattle, Water Wattle
  
In Hindi
Big Bluestem grass
  
Silver Wattle
  
In German
Große Bartgras
  
Silver Wattle
  
In French
Barbon de Gérard herbe
  
Mimosa d'été
  
In Spanish
hierba andropogon grande
  
acacia amarilla
  
In Greek
Big BLUESTEM γρασίδι
  
ασήμι μιμόζα
  
In Portuguese
Vetiver grande grama
  
Acacia retinodes
  
In Polish
Big Bluestem trawa
  
Silver Wattle
  
In Latin
Big bluestem herba
  
Silver Wattle
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Lillosida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Poaceae
  
Fabales
  
Family
Poaceae
  
Fabaceae
  
Genus
Andropogon
  
Acacia
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Number of Species
Not Available
  
Not Available