Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Grass
Tender 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
Mexico, Central America
Types
-
-
Number of Varieties
450
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
meadows, Prairies, Riverbanks, Roadsides, Woods
agricultural areas, Loamy soils, Warmer regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
2-710-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
7 - 1
12-1
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
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Spreading
Plant Size
Minimum Height
38.10 cm30.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
152.40 cm60.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple
Fuchsia
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Blue Green, Burgundy, Bronze
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Tan, Sandy Brown
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Grass like
Oval Cordate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Dry Conditions, Soil Compaction, Sun
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Medium
Do not let dry out between waterings, Do not water the foliage
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
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
A hard prune may be necessary if the plant becomes woody, Cut upper 1/3 section when young to enhancegrowth
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Fertilize every three months
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Bacteria, Birds, Fungal Diseases, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
-
Dry Conditions, Full Sun, Salt and Soil Compaction
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
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies
Beetles, Bugs, Insects
Allergy
-
Acidic, allergic conjunctivitis
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Ground Cover, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Beautification, Hanging Basket, Landscape Designing
Beauty Benefits
-
Makes Hair Silkier, Making cosmetics
Edible Uses
Insignificant
Sometimes
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for animals, Prevent Soil Erosion
Forms dense stands, Provides ground cover, soil stabilisation
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
-
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Stem
Leaves, Stem
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Food for animals
Air freshner, Cosmetics, Showy Purposes
Used As Indoor Plant
Insignificant
Sometimes
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Cutflower, Dried Flower/Everlasting, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Wildflower
Bedding Plant, Container, Groundcover, Hanging Basket, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
ANDROPOGON gerardii
HETEROCENTRON elegans
Common Name
Big Bluestem, Turkey Foot
Spanish Shawl
In Hindi
Big Bluestem grass
Heterocentron
In German
Große Bartgras
Heterocentron
In French
Barbon de Gérard herbe
Heterocentron
In Spanish
hierba andropogon grande
Heterocentron
In Greek
Big BLUESTEM γρασίδι
Heterocentron
In Portuguese
Vetiver grande grama
Heterocentron
In Polish
Big Bluestem trawa
Heterocentron
In Latin
Big bluestem herba
Heterocentron
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Lillosida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Poaceae
Myrtales
Family
Poaceae
Melastomataceae
Genus
Andropogon
Heterocentron
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
-
Abreae
Subfamily
-
-
Number of Species
150200
1
27800
👆🏻