Bushy bluestem is a native warm-season bunchgrass found across the eastern and southern United States, extending through Central America and into South America. It is most recognizable in fall and winter, when its seedheads expand into dense, bushy clusters of silky copper-to-white fibers that persist on upright stems and catch low-angled light.
It grows naturally in moist to wet habitats - marshes, wet flatwoods, roadside ditches, and stream banks - and tolerates periodic flooding. Clumps are upright and tidy at 3–5 feet, spreading slowly by seed rather than aggressive rhizomes. A lean, consistently moist soil in full sun suits it best; it is well matched to rain gardens and bioswales. Cut old growth to within 4–6 inches of the ground in late winter before new shoots emerge. Established plants rarely need division, but clumps that develop dead centers benefit from being split every 3–4 years.
The seedheads provide reliable food for sparrows, finches, and other granivores through fall and winter. Dense clumps offer ground-level cover for nesting birds and small mammals. Several grass skippers use Andropogon species as larval hosts.
Ecoregions:Eastern Temperate ForestsGreat PlainsNorth American DesertsMediterranean CaliforniaTemperate SierrasTropical Wet Forests
These dates are for Zone 6b. Enter your ZIP to time every job to your own frost dates.
- watch · Any time in fallLeave seedheads standing through fall and winter to feed sparrows and finches and to provide structural interest.
- cut · Feb 27Cut dormant clumps to 4–6 inches above ground before new shoots emerge.
- cut · Mar 27Divide any clumps showing dead centers by splitting with a sharp spade and replanting outer sections at the original depth.
- sow · Apr 24Direct sow seed on the surface of moist, bare soil in a full-sun site after last frost. Press seeds firmly into contact with soil; do not cover.
- watch · Any time in summerCheck foliage during humid stretches for rust pustules or fungal leaf spot. Overcrowded clumps are most at risk; improve airflow by thinning or dividing.
Problems & troubleshooting
Common problems
Rust
Orange to brown raised pustules on the undersides of leaves, with yellow spotting on the upper surface. Heavy infections cause leaves to yellow and drop.
Remove and destroy infected leaves. Avoid overhead watering and improve air circulation. Apply a sulfur or copper-based fungicide if it spreads. Clear plant debris in fall.
Fungal leaf spot
Brown or purplish spots on the leaves, often ringed with a yellow halo, that spread and merge in warm, humid, or wet weather; heavily spotted leaves yellow and drop early.
Pick off spotted leaves and clear fallen debris to remove overwintering spores. Improve air circulation by thinning, and water at the base so foliage dries quickly. If it persists, apply a copper- or sulfur-based fungicide at the first sign.