Big bluestem is a warm-season perennial bunch grass in the grass family (Poaceae) native to Central and North America and is one of America's prairie grasses. With blue-green stems and leaves it reaches up with a tall, narrow shape growing 4 to 8 feet tall and just 2 to 3 feet wide. Although this plant tolerates a wide range of soil types, including poor soils, it prefers fertile, well-drained soil and is tolerant of moist soils. This long-lived, easy-to-grow ornamental grass spreads by short rhizomes and occasionally by seed. However, it may become floppy if grown in shade, and it is slow to become established. Cutting it back to the ground in the winter will help maintain its attractive appearance. Once established, its deep fibrous roots make it resistant to drought. It also tolerates salt and browsing by deer. It can be used at pond margins and along streams. ‘Blackhawks’ big bluestem, a cultivar with purple foliage, was selected as the 2026 Perennial Plant of the Year® by the Perennial Plant Association. Ecologists have used this beautiful grass for prairie restorations, naturalizing areas for nesting birds and mammals, meadow gardens and as a screening plant. Plant this grass along borders, in a cottage garden or use it along a slope for erosion control. Its attractive russet-orange fall color makes it an interesting accent in the landscape. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; Sand
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry | Occasionally Wet
Available space
Less than 12 inches; 12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Clumping; Erect; Open
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Blue; Green
Leaf size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
This plant has 3/8 in. green to blue-green leaves with parallel veins turns orange to copper-red in fall.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow; Orange; Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Blue; Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Flower form
Insignificant
Flower detail
The flower's inflorescence appears from July to October, opens red and darkens with age, not very showy, and is forked like a turkey's foot.
Bloom time
Fall; Winter
Fruit type
Caryopsis
Fruit detail
Fruit displays from August to November.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
N. & Central America
Wildlife value
Members of the genus Andropogon support 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. This plant is a larval host for butterflies.