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© Denver Botanic Gardens
big bluestem
Andropogon gerardii
Fort Collins
- Dimensions
-
Height: 1.5 ft. to 5.0 ft.
Spread: 2.0 ft. to 3.0 ft. - Growth Form
- Grass/Grass Like
- Program Association
- Nature in the City
- Wildlife Uses
- Grassland Birds, Large Mammals, Pollinators/ Invertebrates, Riparian Birds, Shrubland Birds, Small Mammals, Wetland Birds, Woodland Birds
- Sun Requirements
- Full Sun
- Water Requirements
- Very Low, Low
- Plant Community
- Foothills, Plains
- Season of Bloom
- July, August, September
- Flower Color
- Inconspicious
- Leaf Color
- Blue Shades, Green Shades, Red Shades
- Aggressiveness
- Not aggressive
- Design Considerations
- Drought Tolerant, Fall Color, Winter Interest
- Other Considerations
- Deer Tolerant
- Duration
- Perennial
- Natural Landscape Position
-
Fort Collins Model
1, 2, 3 - Soil Type
- Nutrient Poor, Shallow, Variable, Well Drained
- Pests/Disease Prone
- No
- Hazards/Toxic
- No City Data.
Notes
This is an important larval food host for many of our native invertebrates.
Andropogon gerardii is native most of the U.S., except for the northwest, California, and Nevada. In Fort Collins, big bluestem can be found growing naturally in the foothill Natural Areas. Plants are drought tolerant but, will need more water to flower.