FNPS Plant Database

Andropogon virginicus

broomsedge bluestem

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Nomenclature

Common Name:

broomsedge bluestem

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Andropogon virginicus

Family:

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.

Availability:

Seed

Propagation:

Seed, division of clumps.

Light:

Part Shade

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

-|----|--|-------|---- <---------------------------> -|----|-

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:

Suitable to Grow In:

8A, 8B, 9A, 9B, 10A, 10B, 11A, 11B

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.



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Ecology

Wildlife:

Birds, Mammals
Provides food and nesting material for many small birds and other small animals.
Butterflies, Caterpillars

Larval host for zabulon skipper (Poanes zabulon)

Native Habitats:

Open seepage areas, flatwoods, marshes, ruderal areas

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

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.

Citations:

Huegel, Craig N. 2012. Native Wildflowers and Other Ground Covers for Florida Landscapes. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.


Taylor, Walter K. 2009. A Guide to Florida Grasses. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. 2021. Atlas of Florida Plants ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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