Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Grass
Shrub
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
China, Japan
Types
-
-
Number of Varieties
45
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
meadows, Prairies, Riverbanks, Roadsides, Woods
subtropical regions, Temperate Regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
2-76-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
7 - 1
9-7
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
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
Plant Size
Minimum Height
38.10 cm300.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
152.40 cm300.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple
White, Silver
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
-
Reddish Plum
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
White, Dark Green, Sienna
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
White, Dark Green, Sienna
Leaf Color in Fall
Blue Green, Burgundy, Bronze
White, Dark Green, Sienna
Leaf Color in Winter
Tan, Sandy Brown
White, Dark Green, Sienna
Shape
Leaf Shape
Grass like
broad, flat
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
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
Fall, Late Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Pollution, Salt
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Cuttings, root cutting, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Medium
Average Water Needs
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
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, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Coral Spot, Leaf spot, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
-
Drought
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies
Birds
Allergy
-
Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Ground Cover, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Bonsai, Cottage Garden, Ground Cover
Beauty Benefits
-
Skin irritation
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for animals, Prevent Soil Erosion
Fixes Nitrogen
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Antiasthamatic, Antitussive, Astringent
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Stem
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Food for animals
Used as Ornamental plant, Used for making hedge
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Cutflower, Dried Flower/Everlasting, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Wildflower
Feature Plant, Hedges, Screening, Wind Break
Botanical Name
ANDROPOGON gerardii
Elaeagnus pungens
Common Name
Big Bluestem, Turkey Foot
Silverthorn
In Hindi
Big Bluestem grass
Silverthorn
In German
Große Bartgras
Silverthorn
In French
Barbon de Gérard herbe
Silverthorn
In Spanish
hierba andropogon grande
Silverthorn
In Greek
Big BLUESTEM γρασίδι
Silverthorn
In Portuguese
Vetiver grande grama
Silverthorn
In Polish
Big Bluestem trawa
Silverthorn
In Latin
Big bluestem herba
Silverthorn
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Lillosida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Poaceae
Rhamnales
Family
Poaceae
Elaeagnaceae
Genus
Andropogon
Elaeagnus
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
-
Number of Species
15070
1
27800
👆🏻