Big Bluestem (Andropogon
Geradi)
 Big
Bluestem is a native warm season, perennial tall grass.
It spreads by underground stems and rhizomes. Big Bluestem's
dense root system saturates the top two feet of soil and
may reach depths of up to twelve feet.
The most
productive sites for Big Bluestem have been found on medium
to tight soils in the Great Plains and Midwest. Growth in
Big Bluestem begins in early April, growing three to eight
feet tall and grows to late October. Big Bluestem is a bunch
grass and produces many leaves.
The lower
leaves are usually covered with a silky hair and curl when
dry. Mature plants have a reddish color after frost. Best
plantings for Big Bluestem occur from late spring to midsummer,
allowing time for establishment before the first frost.
A planting rate of 5 to 6 pure live seed pounds at a depth
of 1/4 to 1/2 inch is recommended, using a chaffy grass drill because of the chaffy nature of the seed.
Few grasses equal Big Bluestem in quantity and quality of
palatable forage produced. Care should be taken to not over
graze to less than eight to ten inches, leaving enough green
leaves for fast regrowth.
"Kaw"
variety is best known and is adapted throughout the Eastern
2/3 of the United States except the extreme Northeast. Some
of the other more popular varieties are "Rountree",
"Champ" and "Pawnee". |
