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Native Plant Society of Texas

Splitbeard Bluestem

Andropogon ternarius

Other common name(s):

Split Bluestem

Family:

Poaceae (Grass Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Carbonate Cross Timbers, Eastern Cross Timbers, Grand Prairie, Western Cross Timbers
Bastrop Lost Pines, Floodplains and Low Terraces2, Northern Post Oak Savanna, Northern Prairie Outliers, San Antonio Prairie, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Floodplains and Low Terraces4, Laguna Madre Barrier Island and Coastal Marshes, Lower Rio Grande Alluvial Floodplain, Mid-Coast Barrier Islands and Coastal Marshes, Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Southern Subhumid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Texas-Louisiana Coastal Marshes
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie
Flatwoods, Floodplains and Low Terraces3, Pleistocene Fluvial Terraces, Red River Bottomlands, Southern Tertiary Uplands, Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Grass & Sedge

Height

1.5
to
4
ft.

Spread

0.5
to
1
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Clay, Dry, Loam, Sand, Well Drained

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Low

Native Habitat

Grassland, Savanna, Woodland, Woodland Edge

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Brown

Bloom Season

Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Forage, Nesting Material, Pollen, Seeds

Wildlife Benefit

Bees, Birds, Deer, Small Mammals

Maintenance

Avoid overwatering. Don’t cut back the plant until early spring before new growth appears. The showy seed tufts provide a nice accent for gardens when planted in large groups. Dormant in winter. Native habitat: prairies, meadows, savannas, open woodlands and woodland edges.

Description

Blooms August-November. A warm-season bunchgrass. Leaf and stem are purplish-reddish green. Produces showy, white seed tufts.

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed No Treatment, Stratification Cold stratification (a few weeks of refrigeration) is optional since Splitbeard Bluestem seeds often germinate well without it. In spring, after the last frost, sow your seeds directly into your prepared garden bed. Scatter seeds evenly over the soil surface and lightly rake them in, ensuring good seed-to-soil contact. Keep the soil consistently moist. Germination typically takes 2-4 weeks. Snip off the seed heads in the fall when the seed heads are dry and fluffy and store them in a paper bag in a cool, dry place until you’re ready to sow. https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-andropogon-ternarius/
Clump Division Depending on the size of the plant, you can either divide it into smaller sections with a sharp knife or simply pull apart smaller sections with your hands. Make sure each division has at least one shoot and a portion of the root system. Trim any excessively long or damaged roots to encourage healthier growth. Place the divisions in their new locations at the same depth they were growing previously and water in thoroughly. Maintain consistent moisture (but not waterlogged conditions) for the first few weeks. In early spring or fall, use a sharp spade or garden fork to carefully lift the entire clump from the ground. 1 ) https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-andropogon-ternarius/ 2) https://www.picturethisai.com/care/propagate/Andropogon_ternarius.html

About the Region

2026 Fall Symposium Logo

This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason