Big Bluestem
Andropogon gerardii
Poaceae (Grass Family)
▲▼ basal leaves
▲ commencement of flowering stems
▲ mature, flowering plant
Andropogon gerardii: Big Bluestem
Location near campus: in native plant bed toward southeast corner of Master Gardener areas north of Botanical Center Building in Nathanael Green park at the Botanical Center; in front of wall on north side of drive into the Darr Agricultural Center.
· native warm-season prairie bunchgrass, with about ¼ inch wide and 12-24 inch long blue-green leaves
· grows 4-10’ tall
· produces 3-5 greenish-brown to reddish-brown or purplish-brown spikes in a digitate panicle at tips and along sides of flowering stems in mid to late summer
· foliage turns orange-brown in winter
· prefers moist, well-drained soils and needs full sun for best growth
· too much water or fertilization will cause weaker stems that will fall over and not remain upright
· native to Missouri