Big Bluestem
Tall, warm-season perennial bunchgrass and state grass of Illinois. Grows 4-8 feet tall forming blue-green clumps through short rhizomes. Deep root system extends 8-15 feet, making it extremely drought tolerant. Distinctive blue-green foliage turns bronze-orange in fall. Produces reddish-purple flowering heads in late summer. Slow to establish but very long-lived once mature. Essential component of tallgrass prairie ecosystems.
Plant Details
Bloom Colour: Reddish-purple
Bloom Time: Late Summer to Fall
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Moisture: Dry to Mesic
Phenology: New growth emerges mid to late April. Vegetative growth continues through summer. Flowering begins in late July to August. Seed heads mature September-October, persisting through winter. Fall color develops in September-October. Dormant period December-March with standing stems providing winter structure.
Wildlife Value: Excellent wildlife value: seeds eaten by prairie birds, nesting cover for ground-nesting birds, larval host for several butterfly species including skippers
Habit Over Time: Forms slowly expanding clumps through short rhizomes. Young plants appear as small tufts, developing into substantial clumps 2-3 feet wide over 5-7 years. Maintains architectural form through winter with attractive seed heads and good standing ability.
Height: Tall (4-8 feet)