• Photo of Andropogon glomeratus (Andropogon glomeratuss)

Plant Profile: Andropogon glomeratus

Taxonomy: Andropogon glomeratus

Names

Bluestem, Broomsedge, Bush Beard Grass, Bushy beardgrass, Bushy Bluestem

  • Photo of Andropogon glomeratus (Andropogon glomeratuss)

Phonetic Spelling:an-dro-POH-gon glaw-mer-AY-tuss

Genus:Andropogon

Species:glomeratus

Family:Poaceae

Bush Bluestem is a robust, clumping grass that thrives in warm weather, reaching heights of 2 to 4 feet. Its leaves exhibit a reddish hue, and in the fall, it produces distinctive, beard-like flowers. This species thrives in moist to wet environments and is not suited for dry conditions.

**Habitat:** It can be found in swamps, wet savannas, pine flatwoods, bogs, fens, depression ponds, interdune swales, and other wet disturbed areas.

**Fire Risk:** With a high flammability rating, Bush Bluestem should not be planted within the defensible space around your home. It is advisable to choose plants with low flammability ratings for areas closest to your residence.

**Seasons of Interest:**
- **Leaves:** Fall
- **Bloom:** Fall
- **Fruit/Seed/Nut:** Fall/Winter

Andropogon glomeratus Feature Summary

Andropogon glomeratus Image Gallery

Tags

#fall color
#full sun tolerant
#fall flowers
#orange
#perennial
#resistant
#orange leaves
#wildlife plant
#cut flowers
#cover plant
#winter interest
#fall interest
#ornamental grass
#grass
#dried flowers
#small mammals
#moist soil
#food source
#fire
#extreme flammability
#NC native
#deer resistant
#copper leaves
#skipper butterflies
#native garden
#native ornamental grass
#larval host plant
#food source winter
#food source fall
#food source herbage
#Coastal FACW
#Piedmont Mountains FACW
#wet soils tolerant
#bird friendly
#food source hard mast fruit
#mammals
#butterfly friendly
#pollinator garden
#audubon
#common wood-nymph butterfly
#various skipper butterflies

Similar Plants

Andropogon glomeratus is often confused with:

Andropogon glomeratus Feature Summary

Attributes
Members of the genus Andropogon supports 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. Provides excellent cover year-round. Seeds are eaten by songbirds and small mammals.
Perennial
Wildlife Food Source
extreme flammability
Fruit
Fruit displays from October to November.
Flowers
This plant has interesting beard-like flowers that bloom from September to October. The inflorescence has densely clustered, bushy bracts at top of stems. The inflorescence is good in cut or dried arrangements.
Pink
White
Gray/Silver
Good Cut
Good Dried
Leaves
This plant has 3/8 in. wide green leaves in summer which turns copper-orange in fall and retains color well into winter. Foliage has a reddish tint.
Green
Brown/Copper
Red/Burgundy
< 1 inch
< 1 inch
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Moist
Occasionally Wet
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Landscape
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Winter Garden
Native Garden
Deer
Pollution
Wet Soil
Black Walnut
Butterflies
Pollinators
Songbirds
Small Mammals

Andropogon glomeratus Attributes

Andropogon glomeratus: Wildlife Value

Members of the genus Andropogon supports 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. Provides excellent cover year-round. Seeds are eaten by songbirds and small mammals.

Andropogon glomeratus: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)

deer, moist and damp soil

Andropogon glomeratus: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Andropogon glomeratus: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Andropogon glomeratus: Play Value

Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer

Andropogon glomeratus: Fire Risk Rating

extreme flammability
high flammability
low flammability
medium flammability

Andropogon glomeratus Fruit

Andropogon glomeratus: Fruit Description

Fruit displays from October to November.

Andropogon glomeratus: Display/Harvest Time

Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter

Andropogon glomeratus Flowers

Andropogon glomeratus: Flower Description

This plant has interesting beard-like flowers that bloom from September to October. The inflorescence has densely clustered, bushy bracts at top of stems. The inflorescence is good in cut or dried arrangements.

Andropogon glomeratus: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Gray/Silver
filter_vintage
Pink
filter_vintage
White

Andropogon glomeratus: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Andropogon glomeratus: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Andropogon glomeratus Leaves

Andropogon glomeratus: Leaf Description

This plant has 3/8 in. wide green leaves in summer which turns copper-orange in fall and retains color well into winter. Foliage has a reddish tint.

Andropogon glomeratus: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Andropogon glomeratus: Leaf Color

spa
Brown/Copper
spa
Green
spa
Red/Burgundy

Andropogon glomeratus: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color

spa
Gold/Yellow
spa
Orange

Andropogon glomeratus: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Andropogon glomeratus: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Andropogon glomeratus: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Andropogon glomeratus Whole Plant Traits

Andropogon glomeratus: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Andropogon glomeratus: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Andropogon glomeratus: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Andropogon glomeratus Cultural Conditions

Andropogon glomeratus: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Andropogon glomeratus: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Andropogon glomeratus: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Andropogon glomeratus: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Andropogon glomeratus Stem

Andropogon glomeratus: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Andropogon glomeratus Landscape

Andropogon glomeratus: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Andropogon glomeratus: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Andropogon glomeratus: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees