Indian Grass
Sorghastrum nutans
Tall golden plumes catch the autumn light above a classic tallgrass-prairie planting.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 4–7 ft
- Fall color
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- Big Bluestem
Bronze-purple seed heads
Ornamental grass
Big Bluestem
Andropogon gerardii
The towering 'turkey-foot' grass that once defined the tallgrass prairie, head-high by fall.
the Northeastthe Mid-Atlanticthe Southeastthe Midwestthe Great Plainsthe South-Central region
Growing Big Bluestem
A monumental warm-season grass for big spaces and screening. Its deep roots build soil and never need water once established. It’s deer-resistant, drought-tolerant, good fall color, and good for winter interest.
Where it grows
Big Bluestem is native to the Northeast. In the wild you’ll find it across Alabama · Arkansas · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · Florida · Georgia · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa and 32 more states. Always confirm it suits your specific county with your state native plant society before planting.
Regional Garden shows Big Bluestem on 42 state pages.
Good for
Sourcing
Where to buy Big Bluestem
Seeds & live plants on Amazon
Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.
Browse on AmazonSome links here are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The surest source of locally-adapted stock is a native-plant nursery or a native plant society sale in your area.
Plant it with
Companions & kin.
Natives that share Big Bluestem’s range and conditions.
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
The backbone grass of the prairie — blue-green in summer, glowing copper and silver all winter.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Fall color
Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum
An upright, clumping grass with a summer haze of pink seed heads and reliable golden fall color.
- Full–part sun
- Dry to wet
- 3–6 ft
- Fall color
Prairie Dropseed
Sporobolus heterolepis
The most refined native grass — a fountain of fine emerald threads that turn amber in fall.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Fall color