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big blue stem | Plant Finder | Fill My Garden

Home/Plants/Grasses & Sedges

Plants > Grasses & Sedges

big blue stem

Andropogon gerardii

Drought Resistant

Genus: Andropogon
Family: Poaceae
Common Names: beard grass, shepherd's beard

About this plant

Densely tufted perennial grass, producing upright clumps of linear, blue-green leaves to 30cm long, purple-tinted in autumn. Strong, upright stems 2m tall bearing racemes about 10cm long of purple-red spikelets appear during autumn

Growing Information

Height

1.5-2.5 Metres

Spread

1.5-2.5 Metres

Hardiness

Foliage

Deciduous

Growing Conditions

Sunlight

Full Sun

Soil

ClaySandyLoam

AcidAlkalineNeutral

Not Currently Available

This plant is not currently stocked at any garden centres on our platform.

Moisture

Well Drained

Aspect

West FacingEast Facing

Exposure

ShelteredExposed

Care Guide

Cultivation

Grow in light, sharply-drained, preferably sandy soil in full sun. Will not tolerate excessive winter wet

Pruning

Cut back old stems to the ground in early spring before growth begins

Propagation

Propagate by seed in a cold frame in spring, propagate by division from mid-spring to early summer

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Garden Uses

Uses

Flower BordersGround CoverHedging ScreensRock Garden

Planting Places

Outdoor

Season of Interest

AutumnSpringSummer

Size & Characteristics

Height

1.5-2.5 Metres

Spread

1.5-2.5 Metres

Habit

Clump Forming

Time to Full Height

Five To Ten Years