| Scientific Name |
Andropogon gerardii |
| Common Name |
Big Bluestem |
| Wetland Code |
FAC- |
| Germination Code |
A |
| Sun Exposure |
Prairie , Savanna |
| Soil Moisture |
Wet Mesic, Mesic, Dry Mesic, Dry |
| Bloom Time |
Not Applicable |
| Color |
Not Applicable |
| Height |
7 feet |
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Big bluestem is tolerant of a wide range of soils and moisture. Depending on soil and moisture conditions, it grows to a height of 1 – 3m (3 – 10 ft). Big Bluestem is a perennial grass. The stem base turns to a blue-purple as it matures. The seed heads have three spike-like projections, resulting in another common name for big bluestem — "turkey foot." The roots are deep, and the plants send out strong, tough rhizomes, so it forms very strong sod. Big bluestem is also called tallgrass or simply called prairie tallgrass.
Big bluestem is a late-successional grass in prairie ecosystems. It grows in tall, dense stands that shade out other plant species. "These stands tend to gradually increase in size over time, unless a disturbance (such as fire) allows other plant species to re-establish themselves."
Bluestem, which has many variants, is considered to be good forage for horses and cattle, and can also be cut and used for hay. It has a high protein level. While not considered the highest quality native forage found in the United States, it has long been considered a desirable and ecologically important grass by cattle ranchers and range-land ecologists. Bluestem grass is also used by landscapers and home owners who want to create a 'native' look in their lawns and gardens.
Due to its high biomass, big bluestem is being considered as a potential feedstock for ethanol production.
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