• Photo of Andropogon virginicus (Andropogon virginicuss)

Plant Profile: Andropogon virginicus

Taxonomy: Andropogon virginicus

Names

Beard Grass, Bluestem, Broomsedge, Broomstraw, Old-field Broomstraw

  • Photo of Andropogon virginicus (Andropogon virginicuss)

Phonetic Spelling:an-dro-POH-gon ver-JIN-ih-kus

Genus:Andropogon

Species:virginicus

Family:Poaceae

Beard Grass features vibrant green leaves and stems that transition to a deep red-purple before transforming into a bright orange hue in late autumn. While this plant is not suitable for formal gardens and does not thrive under heavy mulch, it boasts a long lifespan. It grows vigorously, providing excellent ground cover; however, it is not typically grazed by livestock or wildlife, making it ideal for use in managed rural settings.

**Habitat:** Var. decipiens can be found in savannas, flatwoods, maritime wet grasslands, disturbed pinelands, and various wetlands, while var. virginicus thrives in old fields, along roadbanks, and in disturbed areas.

Andropogon virginicus Feature Summary

Andropogon virginicus Image Gallery

Tags

#fall color
#full sun tolerant
#drought tolerant
#perennial
#orange leaves
#wildlife plant
#purple leaves
#fall interest
#ornamental grass
#grass
#broomstraw
#beard grass
#perennial grass
#bright orange
#native garden
#long lifespan
#native ornamental grass
#poor soils tolerant
#larval host plant
#food source fall
#food source herbage
#coastal FAC
#sandy soils tolerant
#clay soils tolerant
#bird friendly
#food source hard mast fruit
#mammals
#fall color orange
#butterfly friendly
#butterfly larvae
#Piedmont Mountains FACU
#pollinator garden
#audubon
#common wood-nymph butterfly
#various skipper butterflies

Similar Plants

Andropogon virginicus is often confused with:

Andropogon virginicus Feature Summary

Attributes
N. & Central America, Caribbean to Venezuela
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.
Tolerant of poor soil (sand, clay) and drought
Perennial
Fruit
Fruit displays from October to November.
Flowers
The flower inflorescence appears in September, turns bright orange in fall, and is attractively silver when back lit.
Leaves
Green leaves and stems turns dark red-purple then bright orange in late fall.
Green
Gray/Silver
Gold/Yellow
Red/Burgundy
Orange
Purple/Lavender
Stem
Andropogon virginicus has green leaves and stems turns dark red-purple then bright orange in late fall.
Purple/Lavender
Green
Red/Burgundy
Orange
Whole Plant Traits
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Erect
Clumping
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Moist
Occasionally Dry
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
3a
3b
9a
9b
Landscape
Drought Tolerant Garden
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Cottage Garden
Garden for the Blind
Fairy Garden
Border
Mass Planting
Accent
Barrier
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Butterflies
Pollinators

Andropogon virginicus Attributes

Andropogon virginicus: Country Or Region Of Origin

N. & Central America, Caribbean to Venezuela

Andropogon virginicus: 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.

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

Tolerant of poor soil (sand, clay) and drought

Andropogon virginicus: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Andropogon virginicus: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Andropogon virginicus Fruit

Andropogon virginicus: Fruit Description

Fruit displays from October to November.

Andropogon virginicus: Display/Harvest Time

Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter

Andropogon virginicus Flowers

Andropogon virginicus: Flower Description

The flower inflorescence appears in September, turns bright orange in fall, and is attractively silver when back lit.

Andropogon virginicus: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Orange

Andropogon virginicus: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Andropogon virginicus Leaves

Andropogon virginicus: Leaf Description

Green leaves and stems turns dark red-purple then bright orange in late fall.

Andropogon virginicus: Leaf Color

spa
Gold/Yellow
spa
Gray/Silver
spa
Green
spa
Orange
spa
Purple/Lavender
spa
Red/Burgundy

Andropogon virginicus: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color

spa
Orange

Andropogon virginicus: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Andropogon virginicus: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Andropogon virginicus Stem

Andropogon virginicus: Stem Description

Andropogon virginicus has green leaves and stems turns dark red-purple then bright orange in late fall.

Andropogon virginicus: Stem Color

grass
Green
grass
Orange
grass
Purple/Lavender
grass
Red/Burgundy

Andropogon virginicus: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Andropogon virginicus Whole Plant Traits

Andropogon virginicus: 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 virginicus: 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 virginicus: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Andropogon virginicus: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Andropogon virginicus Cultural Conditions

Andropogon virginicus: 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 virginicus: Soil Drainage

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

Andropogon virginicus: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Andropogon virginicus: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Andropogon virginicus: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
3a
thermostat
3b
thermostat
4a
thermostat
4b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Andropogon virginicus: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Andropogon virginicus Landscape

Andropogon virginicus: 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 virginicus: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Andropogon virginicus: 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 virginicus: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Andropogon virginicus: Attracts

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