Silver Bluestem Andropogon ternarius
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- an-dro-POH-gon tern-AR-ee-us
- Description
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Splitbeard Bluestem is a native ornamental warm-season perennial bunchgrass in the Poaceae family. It grows up to 3 feet tall with a 2-foot spread. It is found in meadows, plains and in open woodlands often in sandy soil. It grows in full sun but can tolerate some shade. Well-drained soil as a sandy loam with low fertility is its preference.
Summer foliage is a silvery blue-green turning copper, red, and bronze in the fall. From late summer through fall, fluffy, silver seed heads catch the sun. Looks beautiful in many settings including meadows, cottage gardens, woodland areas or planted en masse.
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:
- ternarius
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Adropogons were historically used for broom straw. Used for cattle grazing.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central & E. U.S.A. to NE. Mexico
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , DC , DE , FL , GA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MD , MO , MS , NC , NJ , OK , SC , TN , TX , VA
- 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 Nesting
- Wind Shimmer
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Heat and drought tolerant.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 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:
- Arching
- Erect
- Vase
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Caryopsis
- Fruit Description:
- Seed heads are fluffy, silvery and shimmer in the wind from October to November.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gray/Silver
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Dried
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Flower Description:
- The inflorescence has three to six pairs of racemes about 2 inches long with a white tuft of hair at the base. Flowers bloom from September to October.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Good Dried
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Sheath
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The flat leaves are 8-18 inches long and very narrow at 2-4 mm wide. Both the leaves and sheaths are often densely hairy and have a waxy silver appearance. They develop a blue cast with age and turn copper or red in the fall.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The stems are long, slender, erect and often purplish to reddish-green with green upper sheaths.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Near Septic
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Fairy Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Barrier
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
