Talk:Andropogon

here is some misc research text I found while researching Andropogon

From the prairies of Nebraska comes a refined variety of big bluestem: 'Pawnee'. It has an upright habit and warm fall colors that persist into winter. Each stiffly vertical stem has the characteristic bluish purple cast of this genus. In late summer, 'Pawnee' develops purplish red flowers in groups of three or six, which resemble the foot of a turkey—hence its nickname: "Turkey Foot Grass." Big bluestem has an extensive root system that can extend down more than 10 feet. Each year, a third of these roots die, opening up channels for water.

USDA Hardiness Zone 5-8 Interesting Notes Perennial, warm, native, poor grazing for wildlife and livestock. 2-4' tall bunchgrass growing in small tufts. The overlapping flattened sheaths are hairy along the margin of upper blade surface toward the base. The upper two-thirds of the plant is freely branching with the leaves turning straw yellow when mature. The seed heads are partly enclosed in a sheath (spathe). Mostly upland, woodland and invades overgrazed ranges. Seldom grazed by any kind of animal. Texas A&M Growing and Maintenance Tips A. virginicus can be found in open fields and upper shores of ponds all over North America and prefers full sun to bright shade, in dry, sandy soils. Propagate by seed or divide clumps every few years and cut stems down to the ground in late winter (February or March) before newgrowth occurs.

Big bluestem is a perennial bunch grass that forms large clumps which expand slowly on short, scaly rhizomes. It normally grows to 5-7 ft (1.5-2.1 m) in height, but under ideal conditions can get more than 10 ft (3.0 m) tall. The habit is fairly upright, and not as arching as some ornamental grasses. Look for the blue color at the base of the stems. The stems and leaves are blue-green in early summer, developing reddish tinges as they mature. The plants turn a rich copper or orange-brown in autumn and develop an overall reddish or burgundy cast after frost. In late summer, big bluestem produces terminal 3 in (7.6 cm) bronze to purplish seed heads that stand above the foliage. The flowering stalk has three finger-like branches that look to some like a turkey's foot; interesting, but not very showy. The foliage stays attractive through winter, but the seed heads disintegrate. '

Location

Big bluestem occurs naturally from southern Quebec and Ontario, west to Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and south to Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, northern Mexico and northern Florida. It grows in prairies and open woods. Big bluestem was the most abundant and tallest grass in the vast Great Plains prairies that once covered much of central North America.

Culture

Big bluestem is adaptable to a wide range of soils; it thrives in light, porous soils as well as heavier, less well drained soils, even clays. It tolerates acidic or alkaline soils. It does well in dry or humid climates and tolerates cool as well as hot summers. A healthy clump of big bluestem gradually expands outward and the center tends to die back, so divide every few years, discarding the center and replacing with younger, more vigorous clumps that grow on the outer edges. Cut to the ground in early spring before new growth begins.

Light: Full sun. Big bluestem will become lanky and flop over if grown in the shade. Moisture: Big bluestem develops a tremendous root system which saturates the top 2 ft (0.6 m) of soil and reaches depths of 12 ft (30.5 m). Once established, it is very drought-tolerant. However, best growth occurs with regular watering, and plants that get adequate moisture throughout the growing season can get more than 10 ft (25.4 m) tall. Big bluestem can withstand short periods of waterlogged soils in summer, but not in winter. Hardiness: USDA Zones 3 - 9. Propagation: Propagate bluestems by seed or by dividing the root mass Azcen (talk)