Black Mountain Bluestem is a compact native grass that has refined but sturdy blue-green foliage that develops deep red hues later in summer. The spikelets have tips covered in silvery white hairs that catch the sun bloom in late summer or early fall. Grows best in full sun and moist, loamy well-drained soils. Drought tolerant.
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Type:
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Orn. Grass
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Origins:
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South, Central, East N. America; GA Native
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Height:
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1.5 - 3'
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Spread:
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1 - 1.5'
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Spacing:
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1.5'
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USDA Hardiness Zone:
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6 - 9
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Culture:
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Full Sun
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Bloom Color:
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White
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Season of Interest:
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Summer, Fall
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MAINTENANCE NEEDS: Low Maintenance. Prefers moist, fertile, loamy soils that do not dry out and is generally intolerant of dry soils. It should be noted that the moist soil preference for this species distinguishes it from most other species of Andropogon. Freely self-seeds in optimum growing conditions. Cut clumps to the ground in late winter to early spring before new shoots appear. Warning: highly flammable
LANDSCAPE USES: Accents or Mass Plantings, Borders, Naturalized Areas, Meadows, Groundcover, and Containers.
COMPANION PLANTS: Milkweed, Tickseed, Black Eyed Susan
IMAGES: Photos byTom Potterfield, (1) Andropogon ternarius (splitbeard bluestem), (2) Andropogon ternarius (splitbeard bluestem), (3) Andropogon ternarius (splitbeard bluestem)
*As plants have ranges in appearance they may not appear as the images shown
