Andropogon virginicus
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Broomsedge Bluestem
Poaceae (Gramineae)
Plant Specifics
Form: | Grass | |
Size: | 3-5 ft tall by 0.5 ft wide | |
Life Span: | Short-lived perennial | |
Flower Color: | Green | |
Fruit Color: | Orange | |
Phenology: | Winter dormant | |
Noted for: | Interesting foliage |
Landscaping
Recommended Uses: | Background planting or as a casual tall bunching or clumping grass in meadow-like settings. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Considerations: | Can be aggressive in disturbed lands. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Propagation: | Seed, division of clumps. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Availability: | Seed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Light: | Full Sun, Part Shade | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Moisture Tolerance: |
always floodedextremely dry |
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(Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Somewhat long very dry periods) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Moisture Tolerance: | Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Somewhat long very dry periods | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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: | Sand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Soil pH: |
Ecology
Wildlife: |
Provides food and nesting material for many small birds and other small animals. | |
Insects: | Larval host for zabulon skipper (Poanes zabulon). | |
Native Habitats: | Open seepage areas, flatwoods, marshes, ruderal areas. |
Distribution and Planting Zones
Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones
Suitable to grow in:
10A 10B 8A 8B 9A 9B
USDA zones are based on minimum winter temperatures
Comments
General Comments: | This plant can be used as a background planting that will create a light orange haze during the late fall and winter months. Andropogon virgnicus var. glaucus (chalky bluestem) is very light blue-green in color and grows in dry sites. |