How to Grow and Care for Big Bluestem

All hail the king of native grasses—the big bluestem! Native to prairies across North America, big bluestem is used extensively in landscaping, agriculture, and landscape conservation efforts. It is a hardy ornamental grass that can tolerate poor soil conditions and drought, and it is even adapted to fire.

Big bluestem is not only revered for its functional properties but it is also grown for its decorative features. This grass adds a pop of color to a landscape all year round—transitioning from bright green in the spring, to a blue-green in the summer, and a fiery copper-red in the fall months. When it flowers, it boasts small purple or yellow spikelets. Accent a native flower garden with a bunch of big bluestem, or plant it as a border for an open property line: This fast-growing grass is adaptable to a wide range of growing conditions. Plant your big bluestem in late winter or early spring.

Big Bluestem Care

Here are the main care requirements for growing big bluestem grass:

• Plant it in a location with at least partial sun to full sun.
• Make sure the soil is well-drained and not highly alkaline.
• Until the grass is established, water it in the absence of rain.

Light

Big bluestem grows best in full sun but is adaptable to part shade. This ornamental grass cannot tolerate full shade conditions.

Soil

Big bluestem is found growing in the dry soils of the North American prairies. It is highly adaptable to a range of soil conditions, from sandy soils to clay soils, as long as they are well-draining. Big bluestem also grows well in less-than-ideal soil conditions and can tolerate poor quality soils, soils with a low pH (4.8 to 6.9) , and shallow soils. This grass cannot tolerate highly alkaline soils or highly compacted soils that are not well-draining.

Water

Established big bluestem grasses are known for being exceptionally drought-tolerant, and big bluestem is even cultivated and sold by specialty nurseries for this feature. As with most seedlings and young plants, big bluestem will require more frequent watering until it has matured.

Temperature and Humidity

As a warm-season grass, big bluestem grows best in temperate climates with warm summers and cool winters. It thrives in the summer months and grows best in temperatures between 80 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Big bluestem is well adapted to fire and can recover easily from wildfires thanks to the fact that it spreads via rhizomes.

Fertilizer

Big bluestem does not require regular fertilization and is well-adapted to grow in poor soil conditions. However, applying a nitrogen-rich fertilizer in the spring months can help big bluestem to establish more quickly, which is especially desirable when it's grown as forage for cattle or other herds. When grown as an ornamental grass, fertilizing is an optional step but certainly not required.

Types of Big Bluestem

• ‘Bison’ has increased cold tolerance and is great for northern climates.
• ‘El Dorado’ and ‘Earl’ work well as forage grasses.
• ‘Kaw’, ‘Niagara’, and ‘Roundtree’ are used for game bird cover and to improve native planting sites.

Pruning

The best way to prune big bluestem is to cut back shaggy, old growth in early spring, readying it for warmer weather. Use clean, sharp gardening shears.

Propagating Big Bluestem

Big bluestem can be propagated through division. As a general rule, wait until the grass is mature and established before attempting to divide.

1. In the early spring, as the grass is coming out of dormancy, dig out the roots. Depending on how mature the grass is, the cluster of rhizomes can be very difficult to separate and you may need to use a saw or sharp spade to divide them.
2. Cut the clump into sections using a shovel, saw, or knife.
3. Replant the sections at the same depth as the original plant. Keep any newly transplanted grasses consistently moist until they have re-established.

How to Grow Big Bluestem From Seed

Big bluestem readily produces seeds every year, which can be harvested and planted the following spring. Alternatively, big bluestem seeds can be bought from most garden centers and specialty nurseries.

1. For improved germination, stratify the seeds for one month before sowing to help break the dormancy cycle.
2. Seeds can be started indoors or sown directly in the garden in late winter or early spring. Sow the seeds at 1/4- to 1/2-inch deep.
3. Keep the seeds consistently moist until they sprout. Be patient, as big bluestem seeds can take up to four weeks to germinate.

Potting and Repotting Big Bluestem

You can grow big bluestem in pots but it is not ideal because the grass gets tall and wide and topples over easily. The larger the container, the better. Eventually the grass will fill even a large container but you can also can plant 2 to 3 grasses together in a large planter that is at least 2 to 3 feet wide and 2 feet deep.

Although big bluestem is winter-hardy, the roots of potted plants are exposed to the cold, unlike in garden soil, so in areas with subzero winters, you need to winterize the container by providing some sort of insulation for the roots.

Overwintering

Big bluestem is well adapted to climates with cold winters and needs no winter protection.

Common Pests & Plant Diseases

Big bluestem has no serious pest or disease problems.

From: thespruce