Big bluestem is not only revered for its functional properties, but it is also grown for its decorative features. This grass adds a pop of color to a landscape all year round—transitioning from bright green in the spring, to a blue-ish green in the summer, and a fiery copper-red in the fall months. When it flowers, it boasts small purple or yellow spikelets. Accent a native flower garden with a bunch of big bluestem, or plant it as a border for an open property line: This fast-growing grass is adaptable to a wide range of growing conditions. Plant your big bluestem in late winter or early spring. Big bluestem is used extensively in landscaping and in agriculture. Its high biomass and high protein content make it a great forage for horses, cattle, and wild animals. It is also great for erosion control and has become an important part of rehabilitating areas that have been overgrazed or farmed. From July to October, big bluestem sports large inflorescences that become three-part seed heads. These seed heads resemble turkey feet, which led to one of its other common names: turkey foot grass. Big bluestem is virtually disease and pest-free. It is invasive in some areas and to be sure yours isn’t one of them, check with local officials to be certain before planting—your county’s extension office is a good start.
Light
Big bluestem grows best in full sun but is adaptable to part shade. This ornamental grass cannot tolerate full shade conditions.
Soil
Big bluestem is found growing in the dry soils of the North American prairies. It is highly adaptable to a range of soil conditions, from sandy soils to clay soils, as long as they are well-draining. Big bluestem also grows well in less-than-ideal soil conditions and can tolerate poor quality soils, soils with a low pH, and shallow soils. This grass cannot tolerate highly alkaline soils or highly compacted soils that are not well-draining.
Water
Established big bluestem grasses are known for being exceptionally drought-tolerant, and big bluestem is even cultivated and sold by specialty nurseries for this feature. As with most seedlings and young plants, big bluestem will require more frequent watering until it has matured.
Temperature and Humidity
As a warm-season grass, big bluestem grows best in temperate conditions and thrives in the summer months. Warm-season grasses tend to grow best in temperatures between 80 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. Interestingly, big bluestem is well adapted to fire and can recover easily from wildfires thanks to the fact that it spreads via rhizomes.
Fertilizer
Big bluestem does not require regular fertilization and is well-adapted to grow in poor soil conditions. However, applying a nitrogen-rich fertilizer in the spring months can help big bluestem to establish more quickly, which is especially desirable when it’s grown as forage for cattle or other herds. When grown as an ornamental grass, fertilizing is an optional step but certainly not required.
Varieties
‘Bison’ has increased cold tolerance and is great for northern climates.‘El Dorado’ and ‘Earl’ work well as forage grasses. ‘Kaw’, ‘Niagara’, and ‘Roundtree’ are used for game bird cover and to improve native planting sites.
Pruning
The best way to prune big bluestem is to cut back shaggy, old growth in early spring, readying it for warmer weather. Use clean, sharp gardening shears.
Propagating Big Bluestem
Big bluestem can be propagated through division. As a general rule, wait until the grass is mature and established before attempting to divide. Early spring is the best time, as the grass is coming out of dormancy. Depending on how mature the grass is, the cluster of rhizomes can be very difficult to separate and you may need to use a saw or sharp spade to divide them. Keep any newly transplanted grasses consistently moist until they have re-established.
How to Grow Big Bluestem From Seed
Big bluestem readily produces seeds every year, which can be harvested and planted the following spring. Alternatively, big bluestem seeds can be bought from most garden centers and specialty nurseries. Big bluestem seeds have improved germination rates if they are stratified for a month before sowing to help break the dormancy cycle. Then, seeds can be started indoors or sown directly in the garden in late winter or early spring. Sow the seeds at 1/4- to 1/2-inch deep, and keep the seeds consistently moist until they sprout. Be patient, as big bluestem seeds can take up to four weeks to germinate!
