Grass - BLUESTEM

Brushy Bluestem, photo by Tom Pottermore (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

BLUESTEM, BIG (Andropogon gergardii) - Turkeyfoot Tall prairie grass with three pronged flowers in the size and shape of a turkey's foot, normally 4-6' tall but can reach 12' in heavy rich soil.  Large growing grass native to Texas, perennial, full sun, best planting time is winter or spring.

BLUESTEM, BUSHY (Andropogon glomeratus) - "Brushy Bluestem", ideal for home gardens as it tolerates lots of moisture without getting top heavy, native to eastern part of Texas, grows in bogs savannahs and swales, 2-5' tall by 2' wide, a slender grass that has a blue-green summer color, in autumn its cottony-silver seed heads remain showy for two months then taking on a coppery color in winter. use next to water feature or in perennial flower garden, full sun, contrasts well with inland sea oats. Does well under irrigation.

BLUESTEM, LITTLE (Schizachyrium scoparitum) - Height 2 – 4’ Perennial bunchgrass. Native statewide. Silver blue foliage turns coppery brown after freeze. Flowers July – September. Also called alkali grass, desert salt grass and prairie beardless broom.

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