Andropogon glomeratus
Bushy Bluestem
Please register or login to build your personal plant list.Bushy Bluestem is a wildlife-friendly, perennial bunchgrass with blue-green leaves. The fluffy, silvery-white flower heads bloom from late summer...
Description:
Bushy Bluestem is a wildlife-friendly, perennial bunchgrass with blue-green leaves. The fluffy, silvery-white flower heads bloom from late summer to early fall. Both the seed heads that follow the flowers and the foliage turn a beautiful coppery-orange color in the fall. The seed plumes are used in floral arrangements. Birds and small mammals eat the seeds. The plants provide cover for wildlife and nesting material and structure for native bees. Bushy Bluestem is also a host plant for butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Skippers and Satyrs. This plant does well in moist, low-lying areas. Use it as an accent plant, or plant in masses in moist meadows, rain gardens, or along pond edges.
Plant Details:
Other Common Names: Bushy Beardgrass
Plant Type: Grass
New Jersey Native: Yes
Bloom Times: Late Summer to Fall
Bloom Colors: White
Deer Resistance: High
Attracts Pollinators and Wildlife: Butterflies, Birds
Salt Tolerance: Low to None
Hardiness Zone: 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
Physiographic Region: All Regions in NJ
Grows in Special Ecoregions: Pinelands
Soil Characteristics
Soil Type: Loam, Organic, Sandy, Clay
Soil Moisture: Dry, Moist
Soil pH: Acidic, Slightly Acidic
Light Needs of Plant
Optimal Light: Full Sun
Light Range: Full Sun
Water Needs of Plant
Soil Moisture: Dry, Moist
Drought Tolerance: Low
Size and Growth Rate
Height: 2 - 5 ft
Spread: 2 - 5 ft
Growth Rate: Medium