Bluestem (Sand) (Andropogon Hallii)

Sand Bluestem is a native warm season, perennial grass. It is a tall grass getting approximately six feet tall with eight to twelve inch leaves extending from the stems. Bluestem spreads by seed rhizomes. 

The rhizomes help this grass to withstand close grazing and to spread more rapidly when properly managed. Sand Bluestem is one of the more important grasses on sandy land ranges. It is palatable to all livestock, but not as much as its close relative Big Bluestem. It is a good forage producer and provides excellent grazing. It is best adapted from loam to deep sandy soils throughout the central part of the United States from Texas to Canada. 

It has been successfully seeded in mixtures on sandy land. The light weight chaffy seed are usually planted 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep in blends with other native varieties using a chaffy grass drill. A seeding rate of 6 to 10 pure live seed pounds per acre is recommended. "Woodward" and "Elida" are the more widely used varieties. They are very similar in appearance and growth habits. The major difference is "Elida" has taller plants than "Woodward".