Andropogon glomeratus
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Bushy Bluestem
Poaceae (Gramineae)
Also known as Andropogon glomeratus var. glomeratus, Andropogon glomeratus var. hirsuitior, Andropogon glomeratus var. pumilus, Andropogon glomeratus var. glaucopsis, Andropogon glaucopsis
Plant Specifics
Form: | Grass | |
Size: | 3-5 (6) ft tall by 1-3 ft wide | |
Life Span: | Long-lived perennial | |
Flower Color: | Green | |
Fruit Color: | Silvery green turning orange | |
Phenology: | Deciduous | |
Noted for: | Fall color |
Landscaping
Recommended Uses: | Background plant in casual landscape. Fruit stalks start out silvery green and transition to and orangy brown. Retains the old stalks through the winter. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Considerations: | May fall over at the end of the season. Will be neater if old stalks are removed before new growth starts in spring. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Propagation: | Division, sprigging, seed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Availability: | Native nurseries, Seed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Light: | Full Sun | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Moisture Tolerance: |
always floodedextremely dry |
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(Stays Wet ----- to ----- Not wet but not extremely dry) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Moisture Tolerance: | Stays Wet ----- to ----- Not wet but not extremely dry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Salt Water Flooding Tolerance: | Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Salt Spray/ Salty Soil Tolerance: | Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Soil or other substrate: | Loam, Organic material (muck), Sand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Soil pH: | Acidic to neutral |
Ecology
Wildlife: |
Seeds eaten by various small birds and other wildlife. | |
Insects: | Possible larval host plant for Delaware skipper (Anatrytone logan), Georgia satyr (Neonympha areolata), neamathla skipper (Nastra neamathla), swarthy skipper (Nastra lherminier) and twin-spot skipper (Oligoria maculata) butterflies. | |
Native Habitats: | Flatwoods, marshes |
Distribution and Planting Zones
Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones
Suitable to grow in:
8A 8B 9A

USDA zones are based on minimum winter temperatures
Comments
General Comments: | There are several different subspecies of A. glomeratus with different affinities for upland and wetland conditions.
Uses of the latter 3 varieties should be similar as their habitats are similar. |