Bushy Bluestem Andropogon glomeratus
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Andropogon glaucopsis
- Andropogon glomeratus var. glomeratus
- Andropogon glomeratus var. hirsuitior
- Andropogon glomeratus var. pumilus
- Phonetic Spelling
- an-dro-POH-gon glaw-mer-AY-tuss
- Description
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Bush Bluestem is a tufting, sturdy, warm-season grass that may grow 2 to 6 feet in height. The foliage has a reddish tint. Interesting, beard-like flowers appear in fall. This plant prefers moist to damp sites and is not drought tolerant.
Habitat: Swamps, wet savannas, pine flatwoods, bogs, fens, depression ponds, interdune swales and ponds, wet disturbed sites
Fire Risk: This plant has an extreme flammability rating and should not be planted within the defensible space of your home. Select plants with a low flammability rating for the sites nearest your home.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Andropogon
- Species:
- glomeratus
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern coastal USA west to TX.
- Fire Risk Rating:
- extreme flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Members of the genus Andropogon supports Common Wood-Nymph (Cercyonis pegala) larvae which have one brood from late May to October. Adult Common Wood-Nymph butterflies feed on rotting fruit and flower nectar. This plant also supports various Skipper larvae. Provides excellent cover year-round. Seeds are eaten by songbirds and small mammals.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- deer, moist and damp soil
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
- Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit displays from October to November.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Pink
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Good Dried
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Flower Description:
- This plant has interesting beard-like flowers that bloom from September to October. The inflorescence has densely clustered, bushy bracts at top of stems. The inflorescence is good in cut or dried arrangements.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- This plant has 3/8 in. wide green leaves in summer which turns copper-orange in fall and retains color well into winter. Foliage has a reddish tint.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Orange
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Fruit stalks start silvery green and transition to an orangy brown.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Riparian
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Winter Garden
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Deer
- Pollution
- Wet Soil
