Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), also affectionately known as "Turkeyfoot" or the "King of the Prairie," is a majestic native grass that brings architectural height, dramatic seasonal color shifts, and deep ecological roots to your landscape.
As the towering signature grass of North America’s historical tallgrass prairie, Big Bluestem is a warm-season bunchgrass celebrated for its versatility and rugged beauty. Forming neat clumps of blue-green foliage in spring and summer, it reaches up to 6 to 8 feet tall by late summer when crowned with its iconic, three-branched "turkey-foot" purple-bronze seed heads. As autumn arrives, the entire plant transforms into a rich, metallic copper-crimson before fading to a warm tan that stands tall through winter storms.
Key Features:
- The "King of the Prairie": The undisputed star of native grasslands, bringing authentic prairie elegance, dynamic movement in the breeze, and multi-season color to modern gardens.
- Butterfly & Skipper Host: Serves as a critical larval host plant for native skipper butterflies—including the Delaware, Dusted, and Arogos skippers—while feeding hungry caterpillars.
- Deep-Rooted & Drought-Proof: Roots dive an incredible 10+ feet deep into the soil, making this grass virtually immune to severe drought, exceptional at controlling erosion, and a natural builder of healthy soil.
- Crucial Songbird Sanctuary: The sturdy winter stems provide shelter and thermal cover for ground-nesting birds, while the rich autumn seed heads serve as a vital natural bird feeder during cold winter months.
- Bold Four-Season Architecture: Transitions effortlessly from cool blue-green summer tones to fiery autumn copper, holding its upright shape to provide striking winter silhouettes.
- Eco-Friendly: Grown non-GMO and neonicotinoid-free to ensure a healthy ecosystem for your local wildlife.
Our plants ship in 3-inch pots with a deeply established root mass and active emerging foliage around 2 to 5 inches high, ready to burst into growth once planted.
Why Choose Big Bluestem?
Big Bluestem is the ultimate low-maintenance, high-impact choice for naturalized gardens and meadows. If you have poor, dry, or rocky soil where other plants fail, Big Bluestem thrives without ever needing fertilizer or extra water once established. It introduces crucial vertical structure and gentle swaying movement to your garden borders, replacing stiff wooden fences with a living, rustling visual screen that feeds songbirds and hosts rare native butterflies season after season.
Planting Tips:
- Location: Plant in full sun (at least 6 hours of direct light to keep stems standing tall and proud). Highly adaptable to almost any soil—from lean, rocky, or dry sandy ground to heavy, wet clay.
- Watering: Water regularly during its first growing season to help those massive roots reach deep into the soil. Once established, it is extraordinarily drought-tolerant and rarely needs supplemental watering.
- Maintenance: Practically effortless. Leave the seed heads and foliage standing all winter long to shelter birds and add winter interest. Cut back to 2–3 inches above the ground in early spring before new green shoots emerge.
For more information on planting, view our How to Plant Your Native Plants guide and other planting tips in the Garden for Wildlife Learning Center.
Bring the regal majesty, deep resilience, and wildlife power of Big Bluestem to your landscape—a native prairie icon that rewards you with bold autumn colors and year-round bird habitat.
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