Big Bluestem

Andropogon gerardii

Tall Bluestem, Turkeyfoot

Photo Credit: https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=ANGE

Courtesy: Lynn, Janice, https://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=35853

NPSOT, NTX, NLCP Level 3, Marie-Theres Herz; Herbarium Sheet

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map (hover for ecoregion names)

Native Habitat: Grassland

Chihuahuan Deserts, East Central Texas Plains, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, High Plains, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain

Maintenance

Leave dead stems standing through Fall and Winter for insect habitat. Cut back dead stems in February before Spring growth.

Comments

Needs more moisture to look its best, but is quite drought tolerant once established. One of four major grasses that characterize Blackland prairies throughout Texas.

Growth Form

Grass & Sedge

Height

3 to

6 ft

Spread

1 to

2 ft

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Acid, Calcareous

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Low

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Bloom Color

Brown

Bloom Season

Fall

Seasonal Interest

Seeds, Forage

Wildlife Benefit

Browsers, Birds

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Previous Scientific Name(s): Synonym/s: Andropogon chrysocomus, Andropogon furcatus, Andropogon gerardii var. chrysocomus, Andropogon provincialis

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ANGE. 3) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Andropogon+gerardii&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 4) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=17687&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 5) Wasowski and Wasowski, Native Texas Plants Landscaping Region by Region, 1991, pg. 126.. 6) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=40462#null, 7) Hatch, Umphres, Ardoin, 2015, Field Guide to Common Texas Grasses, pg 50.

Native Plant Society of Texas