Andropogon glomeratus

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Bushy Bluestem

Poaceae (Gramineae)

Also known as Andropogon glomeratus var. glomeratus, Andropogon glomeratus var. hirsuitior, Andropogon glomeratus var. pumilus, Andropogon glomeratus var. glaucopsis, Andropogon glaucopsis

Plant Specifics

Form:Grass
Size:3-5 (6) ft tall by 1-3 ft wide
Life Span:Long-lived perennial
Flower Color:Green
Fruit Color:Silvery green turning orange
Phenology:Deciduous
Noted for:Fall color

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:Background plant in casual landscape. Fruit stalks start out silvery green and transition to and orangy brown. Retains the old stalks through the winter.
Considerations:May fall over at the end of the season. Will be neater if old stalks are removed before new growth starts in spring.
Propagation:Division, sprigging, seed.
Availability:Native nurseries, Seed
Light: Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance:
always floodedextremely dry
 (Stays Wet ----- to ----- Not wet but not extremely dry)
Moisture Tolerance: Stays Wet ----- to ----- Not wet but not extremely dry
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:Loam, Organic material (muck), Sand
Soil pH:Acidic to neutral

Ecology

Wildlife:
  

Seeds eaten by various small birds and other wildlife. 
Insects:
 

Possible larval host plant for Delaware skipper (Anatrytone logan), Georgia satyr (Neonympha areolata), neamathla skipper (Nastra neamathla), swarthy skipper (Nastra lherminier) and twin-spot skipper (Oligoria maculata) butterflies.
Native Habitats:Flatwoods, marshes

Distribution and Planting Zones

Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones

Suitable to grow in:
8A 8B 9A 

USDA zones are based on minimum winter temperatures

Comments

General Comments:

There are several different subspecies of A. glomeratus with different affinities for upland and wetland conditions.

  • A. glomeratus var. glaucopsis is notable as it has a blue-purple coloration and is almost always found in wetlands.  It is sometimes considered to be a separate species
  • A. glomeratus var. pumilus has the widest distribution in Florida and based on the relative numbers of herbarium specimens, likely the most common.
  • A. glomeratus var. hirsuitior is widespread but probably less common than var. pumilis.
  • A. glomeratus var. glomeratus has no documented herbarium specimens in the southern half of the peninsula.

Uses of the latter 3 varieties should be similar as their habitats are similar.