Andropogon gerardii (Big Bluestem)
Andropogon gerardii (Big Bluestem)
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Pure Live Seed
Pure Live Seed
Seed is provided in Pure Live Seed (PLS) unless otherwise stated.
Pure Live Seed (PLS) expresses the viable seed content of a seed lot using its purity and germination or viability test results. It helps you compare seed lots and calculate how much bulk seed is needed to meet a specified PLS planting rate.
PLS weight and bag weight
PLS weight is not the same as the total weight of seed in a bag. For example, a lot with 80% purity and 75% viability contains 60% PLS: 80 × 75 ÷ 100 = 60. Supplying 10 lb PLS from that lot requires about 16.67 lb of bulk seed.
Use the current seed test and the stated basis of the mix specification. Germination calculations may include applicable hard or dormant seed. Seed-count estimates also require the number of seeds per pound; PLS alone does not provide a seed count.
What to check when buying a mix
Check whether each rate is stated in PLS pounds, bulk pounds, or a combination. A mix with both bases should not be described as having an all-PLS total.
PLS does not remove weed seeds or guarantee establishment. Review the seed label and analysis for weed content, and match site preparation, planting conditions and follow-up management to your project.
Sources: USDA NRCS, Understanding Pure Live Seed and The Importance of Seed Quality for Natural Resource Conservation.
Weight Conversions lbs. to oz.
Weight Conversions lbs. to oz.
0.01 pounds = 0.16 ounces
- 0.1 pounds = 1.6 ounces
- 0.25 pounds = 4 ounces
- 0.5 pounds = 8 ounces
- 0.75 pounds = 12 ounces
- 1.00 pounds = 16 ounces
Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) gives a prairie planting height and a strong grassy structure, with branching seedheads often compared to a turkey's foot. This warm-season perennial develops especially well in moisture-holding loam and clay-loam soils. Its rhizomes can build a dense stand, so give it room among other substantial prairie plants.
Check the product options above for the available format and quantity.
Plant specifications & ecological relationships
Key growing facts
| Sunlight | Full sun |
|---|---|
| Soil moisture | Moist to slightly dry |
| Height | 3-8 ft |
| Bloom season | Late summer or early fall |
Native landscape companions
For full sun and mesic soil, consider these native plants alongside Andropogon gerardii:
| Companion plant | Height |
|---|---|
| Tall Coreopsis (Coreopsis tripteris) | 3-8 ft |
| Nodding Bulrush or Rufous Bulrush (Scirpus pendulus) | 2–3½ ft |
| Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans) | 3-7 ft |
| Prairie Cordgrass (Spartina pectinata) | About 3-7 ft |
These landscape suggestions combine overlapping growing needs with documented plant associations. Match soil, seasonal wetness and mature spread to your site. Remnant records are described separately under Plant communities & associates.
Show / hide ▾Growing & planting details
| Growth habit | Large grass that can be somewhat aggressive |
|---|---|
| Root form | Coarse rhizomes and deep roots; FEIS reports main roots extending 6–10 feet, with development dependent on conditions. |
| Soil pH | 6.0–7.5 |
| Drought tolerance | High |
| Salt tolerance | Medium |
Plant identification & seed reference
| Botanical name | Andropogon gerardii |
|---|---|
| Other common names | big bluestem |
| Seed germination | USDA lists cold stratification as not required; seed-lot response may vary. |
| Plant family | Poaceae |
| Seeds per pound — reference estimate | 144240 |
Plant characteristics
This native grass is classic of the tallgrass prairie. In the fall this plant can display beautiful red to purple colors as it goes dormant. If planted with other prairie plants it can please the eyes blowing in the wind on a late summer's day. However, it can be bit aggressive in small native landscapes due to it seeding regulatory and its 6 foot stature.
Show / hide ▾Plant communities & associates
Documented Illinois communities
Mature dry sand prairie — burned
Lost Mound — Jo Daviess County, Illinois; 2005 survey.
Other native plants recorded in this survey area: Amorpha canescens, Anemone cylindrica, Asclepias verticillata, Asclepias viridiflora, Aster ericoides, Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua hirsuta, Ceanothus americanus, Coreopsis palmata, Dalea purpurea, Eragrostis spectabilis, Helianthus occidentalis.
Selected species from the ground layer. The survey includes disturbance and succession; these records do not specify immediate neighbors or planting proportions.
Mature dry sand prairie — unburned
Lost Mound — Jo Daviess County, Illinois; 2005 survey.
Other native plants recorded in this survey area: Asclepias verticillata, Aster ericoides, Bouteloua hirsuta, Koeleria macrantha, Liatris aspera, Monarda punctata, Panicum virgatum, Rhus aromatica, Schizachyrium scoparium, Solidago nemoralis, Sorghastrum nutans, Ambrosia psilostachya.
Selected species from the ground layer. The survey includes disturbance and succession; these records do not specify immediate neighbors or planting proportions.
Successional dry sand prairie — Schizachyrium/Poa
Lost Mound — Jo Daviess County, Illinois; 2005 survey.
Other native plants recorded in this survey area: Asclepias verticillata, Brickellia eupatorioides, Eragrostis spectabilis, Euphorbia corollata, Helianthus pauciflorus, Koeleria macrantha, Lespedeza capitata, Panicum virgatum, Rhus aromatica, Schizachyrium scoparium, Ambrosia psilostachya, Aster sericeus.
Selected species from the ground layer. The survey includes disturbance and succession; these records do not specify immediate neighbors or planting proportions.
Illinois plant communities
Mesic black-soil prairie — central Illinois
Recorded at Loda Cemetery Prairie (Iroquois County), Prospect Cemetery Prairie (Ford County), Weston Cemetery Prairie (McLean County). INHS identifies these sites as remnants of this community.
Selected native plants from the same remnant records:
- Sorghastrum nutans
- Sporobolus heterolepis
- Eryngium yuccifolium
- Silphium laciniatum
- Parthenium integrifolium
- Dalea purpurea
These inventories include edges and disturbed patches. Shared remnant records do not establish that every plant grows together in one microsite.
Illinois plant communities
These regional accounts place this plant and the plants below in the same type of natural community. A community list does not mean that every species grew together in one plot. Use the habitat and location to understand the relationship; it is not a planting recipe.
- Mature dry-mesic sand prairie — Illinois sand deposits: Sorghastrum nutans. The source describes big bluestem as an occasional dominant in these accounts. (pp. 265)
- Mature wet-mesic sand prairie — Illinois sand deposits: Calamagrostis canadensis, Sorghastrum nutans, Spartina pectinata, Carex spp., Euphorbia corollata, Euthamia gymnospermoides, Liatris aspera, Parthenium integrifolium, Solidago canadensis. (pp. 265–266)
Green River community records
Dry-mesic sand prairie: Lee County, Illinois (2006). Selected catalog plants recorded in this community: Antennaria plantaginifolia; Asclepias verticillata; Euphorbia corollata; Lespedeza capitata; Liatris aspera; Parthenium integrifolium.
Mesic sand prairie: Lee County, Illinois (2006). Selected catalog plants recorded in this community: Antennaria neglecta; Antennaria plantaginifolia; Fragaria virginiana; Lespedeza capitata; Liatris pycnostachya; Panicum virgatum.
The study site includes restoration plantings. Community records do not establish county-native origin or a seed-mix recipe.
Other regional plant communities
These plants are named with this species in published vegetation accounts. Each list keeps its community and region; some records describe a shared vegetation type rather than neighboring plants in a measured plot. They are ecological records, not a planting recipe, and may include plants unsuitable for a particular garden.
- Oak and bluestem savanna (Illinois; historical vegetation account): Prunus americana.
- Dry to mesic tallgrass prairie (Iowa): Amorpha canescens.
- Tallgrass prairie (Great Plains and Midwest): Dalea purpurea.
- Cedar glades (Wisconsin): Juniperus virginiana.
- Sandhill prairie and mixed-grass prairie (Great Plains): Amorpha canescens.
- Plains mesa sand scrub (Eastern New Mexico): Amorpha canescens.
- Tallgrass prairie (North-central Texas): Bouteloua hirsuta.
- Ponderosa-pine savanna (Western North Dakota): Bouteloua hirsuta.
- Cedar glades (Kentucky): Juniperus virginiana.
- Bluestem prairie (Kansas): Rhus glabra.
Show / hide ▾Native range & C-value
State range follows Kew’s treatment of Andropogon gerardi.
State nativity describes a broad range. Use the Chicago-region assessment for local context; a state listing does not establish county nativity.
| Wetland indicator — NWPL 2022 Midwest | FAC |
|---|---|
| C-value — Chicago region, Flora 2017 | 5 |
| Chicago-region native — Flora 2017 | Yes |
| Native range — U.S. states | Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming. |
| County nativity | Not yet verified; occurrence records do not establish nativity. |
Show / hide ▾Pollinators & wildlifeNo verified list yet
No additional named relationships have been verified for this listing.
Show / hide ▾Frequently asked questions
What are the ideal growing conditions for Big Bluestem?
Light: Full sun. Soil moisture: Moist to slightly dry.
How do I germinate and establish Big Bluestem from seed?
USDA lists cold stratification as not required; seed-lot response may vary.
Is Big Bluestem deer and herbivore resistant?
Species-specific deer resistance has not been verified here. Even plants described as resistant may be browsed. Use physical protection where deer damage is a concern.
When should I expect Big Bluestem to bloom?
Typical flowering period: Late summer or early fall. Timing varies with location and weather.
Show / hide ▾Sources & ecological notes
Landscape companion selection: Natural Communities compared the growing requirements shown on these species pages with selected source records: Mesic black-soil prairie — Loda Cemetery Prairie — Central Illinois; Mature dry sand prairie — unburned — Northwestern Illinois — Mississippi River sand deposits; Mature wet-mesic sand prairie — Illinois sand deposits. The shortlist is a planting-design inference. A shared record does not establish adjacency, identical soil requirements, local seed origin, or a tested planting combination. Regional synthesis records retain their documented focal-to-associate scope.
Illinois communities & local records: INHS: Loda, Prospect and Weston prairie records; INHS: Illinois sand-area plant communities; Ebinger et al.: Green River communities (2009).
Native range & ecological ratings: Flora of the Chicago Region (2017), via Universal FQA; USACE Chicago FQA (2017); USACE National Wetland Plant List.
Growing conditions & other references: Illinois Wildflowers, John Hilty; USDA Forest Service: Amorpha canescens; USDA Forest Service: Bouteloua hirsuta; USDA Forest Service: Dalea purpurea; USDA Forest Service: Juniperus virginiana; USDA Forest Service: Prunus americana; USDA Forest Service: Rhus glabra; USDA Forest Service: species review; USDA NRCS PLANTS; USDA Forest Service: species review; Patrick Goggin: Wisconsin native plant guide, p. 75; USDA Forest Service: species review; USDA Forest Service: species review; USDA Forest Service: species review; USDA Forest Service: species review.
Native range does not identify the origin of the seed or plants offered. Community and wildlife records apply to the locations and conditions described.
Research notes & credits
Source: Phillippe, L.R., Molano-Flores, B., Murphy, M.J.C., Marcum, P.B. & Ebinger, J.E. (2011), Status of Endangered and Threatened Sand Area Species of the Illinois Flora, Illinois Natural History Survey Bulletin 39(4):259–296. © 2011 University of Illinois Board of Trustees; CC BY 4.0. Selected community facts regrouped and described by Natural Communities. Historical source names retained; no current legal conservation status is asserted.
USACE/ERDC fqadata — Chicago Region FQA 2017. Herman, B., Sliwinski, R. & Whitaker, S. (2017), Chicago Region FQA Calculator; distributed by USACE/ERDC in fqadata under CC0. Values may differ from Flora of the Chicago Region (2017). CC0 dedication. Retained for comparison; the displayed C-value follows Flora database 80.
Flora rating attribution: Kenneth Johnson (2018), Flora of the Chicago Region UFQA Database, following Gerould Wilhelm and Laura Rericha (2017), Flora of the Chicago Region: A Floristic and Ecological Synthesis. Individual rating facts are presented with original commentary; the calculator’s software license is not treated as a license for the underlying Flora publication.
State and regional review: Andropogon gerardi. Orthographic normalization: catalog gerardii to Kew gerardi; species rank unchanged. Kew names and backbone distributions, CC BY 3.0; adapted to U.S. states.
Survey communities: Ebinger et al. (2006), Tables 1–12, Illinois Natural History Survey Bulletin. CC BY 4.0; adapted as dated presence lists, with the source’s non-native records excluded from the displayed native lists.
Growing guidance: Illinois Extension — Keeping deer out of the yard and garden. Selected facts in original wording. General deer advice is not a species resistance rating.
Plant Shipping & Care
Plant Shipping & Care
We want to ensure that our customers get what they want, a native backyard oasis. To do that, we need to follow a few simple guidelines and give you some information and pointers to make sure you get your plants delivered in a healthy state.
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Order Fulfilment - When Your Plants or Other Items Will Be Ready
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Where We Ship
What to Expect When Receiving Your Delivery
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- We will need to cut back certain plants prior to shipping. This seems counter-intuitive, however, the fewer leaves the less water the plants can lose during shipping, resulting in healthier plants for you. This also enables the plants to fit within the protective packaging and shipped safely.
Shipments
- Larger plant shipments will look similar to the picture below with a tray of your plants and a cardboard box to protect them during shipping.
What to Do With Your Plants After Receiving Your Delivery
- Unpack your order IMMEDIATELY
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- Install your plants as quickly as possible and water the entire garden area thoroughly
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- Some plants may not be in a container, put them into some kind of a container such as a paper cup with loose soil until installation
- Make sure each plant is receiving the appropriate amount of light.
- Continue to water daily each morning and possibly again in the afternoon
- No additional fertilizer is needed
Seed Shipping & Care
Seed Shipping & Care
Seed ships all year and typically ships within a week of an order being placed.
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