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Native Plant Society of Texas

Cane Bluestem

Bothriochloa barbinodis

Other common name(s):

Cane Beardgrass, Pinhole Bluestem, Feather Bluestem

Family:

Poaceae (Grass Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

Central Great Plains, Chihuahuan Deserts, Cross Timbers, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, High Plains, Southern Texas Plains, Southwestern Tablelands, Texas Blackland Prairies
Broken Red Plains, Limestone Plains, Red Prairie
Chihuahuan Basins and Playas, Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands, Chihuahuan Montane Woodlands, Low Mountains and Bajadas, Stockton Plateau
Carbonate Cross Timbers, Eastern Cross Timbers, Grand Prairie, Limestone Cut Plain, Western Cross Timbers
Bastrop Lost Pines, Floodplains and Low Terraces2, Northern Post Oak Savanna, Northern Prairie Outliers, San Antonio Prairie, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Balcones Canyonlands, Edwards Plateau Woodland, Llano Uplift, Semiarid Edwards Plateau
Coastal Sand Plain, Lower Rio Grande Alluvial Floodplain, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Southern Subhumid Gulf Coastal Prairies
Llano Estacado, Rolling Sand Plains, Shinnery Sands
Northern Nueces Alluvial Plains, Rio Grande Floodplain and Terraces, Semiarid Edwards Bajada, Texas-Tamaulipan Thornscrub
Caprock Canyons Badlands Breaks, Flat Tablelands and Valleys, Semiarid Canadian Breaks
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Grass & Sedge

Height

2
to
4
ft.

Spread

1
to
2
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Dry

Light Requirement

Sun

Water Requirement

Medium

Native Habitat

Grassland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer

Seasonal Interest

Seeds, Forage

Wildlife Benefit

Browsers, Birds, Small Mammals

Maintenance

Can be grown as an ornamental grass in gardens. It is one of the few grasses that will thrive in barren areas. It grows in the most challenging conditions, is very drought resistant, and excellent for erosion control. Native habitat: prairies, plains, meadows, pastures, savannas, and gravelly slopes in desert grasslands. Is tolerant of coastal conditions. Not common in plant nurseries but seeds are available commercially. Propagation; seed.

Comments

Blooms April-August. A tufted, warm season grass. Stems are erect or ascending with nodes swollen or brittle, Leaf blades are mostly flat, with margins folded, The inflorescence is cottony white and silvery, with 2 or more spikes or clusters at the end of each stem.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Andropogon barbinodis, Andropogon perforatus, Bothriochloa barbinodis var. palmeri, Bothriochloa barbinodis var. perforata, Bothriochloa palmeri

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed No Treatment Cane bluestem is typically easy to germinate with no pretreatment necessary (Gucker 2011). In lab and field settings germination rates are generally 75% or higher (Gucker 2011). Seeds germinated at 25°C (77°F) show the highest germination rates of 88-93% (Gucker 2011). Abrupt temperature changes and seeds kept at lower and higher temperatures had lower germination rates of 0-76% (Gucker 2011). Seeds are collected when they form a white fluffy fan at the top of the culms and when they readily detach from the plant. Gently collect seed tufts by hand, removing them from the culms. https://rngr.net/npn/propagation/protocols/bothriochloa-barbinodis-bothriochloa#:~:text=Propagation%20Collection:,Propagation%20Processing/Propagule%20Characteristics:
Clump division Division Carefully dig around the clump, ensuring you lift the entire root system. Using a sharp spade or garden knife, divide the clump into smaller sections, each with a good amount of roots and shoots. Replant the divided sections immediately in prepared garden beds, spacing them according to the desired density and watering them in thoroughly. While drought-tolerant once established, Cane Bluestem benefits from regular watering during its first year, especially during hot, dry periods. The best time to divide Cane Bluestem is in early spring when new growth begins to emerge. https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-bothriochloa-barbinodis/
Seed Stratification Cane Bluestem seeds benefit from a period of cold stratification to improve germination rates. You have two options: Direct Sowing: In the late fall, sow seeds directly into prepared garden beds after the first frost. This allows them to undergo natural cold stratification over winter. Indoor Sowing: For an early spring start, mimic natural stratification by mixing the seeds with damp vermiculite in a sealed plastic bag and storing them in the refrigerator for 6-8 weeks. Sow the chilled seeds in seed trays filled with a well-draining seed starting mix, lightly covering them with soil. Cane Bluestem thrives in full sun to partial shade and well-draining soil. Keep the soil consistently moist until the seedlings are established. Expect germination to occur within 2-4 weeks after sowing indoors or in the spring for direct-sown seeds. The optimal time to collect Cane Bluestem seeds is in the fall when the fluffy, silver seed heads mature. Snip the seed heads with sharp shears and store them in a paper bag in a cool, dry location until you’re ready to sow. https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-bothriochloa-barbinodis/

Cane Bluestem

Bothriochloa barbinodis

Other names:

Cane Beardgrass, Pinhole Bluestem, Feather Bluestem

Family:

Poaceae (Grass Family)

Characteristics
Growth Form:
Grass & Sedge
Height:
2
to
4
ft.
Spread:
1
to
2
ft.
Leaf Retention:
Deciduous
Lifespan:
Perennial
Soil:
Sand, Loam, Clay, Dry
Light:
Sun
Water:
Medium
Native Habitat:
Grassland
Photo Credit: Anderson, Wynn, https://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=159333
Photo Credit: Anderson, Wynn, https://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=159334
Central Great Plains, Chihuahuan Deserts, Cross Timbers, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, High Plains, Southern Texas Plains, Southwestern Tablelands, Texas Blackland Prairies
Broken Red Plains, Limestone Plains, Red Prairie
Chihuahuan Basins and Playas, Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands, Chihuahuan Montane Woodlands, Low Mountains and Bajadas, Stockton Plateau
Carbonate Cross Timbers, Eastern Cross Timbers, Grand Prairie, Limestone Cut Plain, Western Cross Timbers
Bastrop Lost Pines, Floodplains and Low Terraces2, Northern Post Oak Savanna, Northern Prairie Outliers, San Antonio Prairie, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Balcones Canyonlands, Edwards Plateau Woodland, Llano Uplift, Semiarid Edwards Plateau
Coastal Sand Plain, Lower Rio Grande Alluvial Floodplain, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Southern Subhumid Gulf Coastal Prairies
Llano Estacado, Rolling Sand Plains, Shinnery Sands
Northern Nueces Alluvial Plains, Rio Grande Floodplain and Terraces, Semiarid Edwards Bajada, Texas-Tamaulipan Thornscrub
Caprock Canyons Badlands Breaks, Flat Tablelands and Valleys, Semiarid Canadian Breaks
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie
Color:
Yellow
Season:
Spring, Summer
Seasonal Interest:
Seeds, Forage
Wildlife Benefit:
Browsers, Birds, Small Mammals
Can be grown as an ornamental grass in gardens. It is one of the few grasses that will thrive in barren areas. It grows in the most challenging conditions, is very drought resistant, and excellent for erosion control. Native habitat: prairies, plains, meadows, pastures, savannas, and gravelly slopes in desert grasslands. Is tolerant of coastal conditions. Not common in plant nurseries but seeds are available commercially. Propagation; seed.
Blooms April-August. A tufted, warm season grass. Stems are erect or ascending with nodes swollen or brittle, Leaf blades are mostly flat, with margins folded, The inflorescence is cottony white and silvery, with 2 or more spikes or clusters at the end of each stem.

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed No Treatment Cane bluestem is typically easy to germinate with no pretreatment necessary (Gucker 2011). In lab and field settings germination rates are generally 75% or higher (Gucker 2011). Seeds germinated at 25°C (77°F) show the highest germination rates of 88-93% (Gucker 2011). Abrupt temperature changes and seeds kept at lower and higher temperatures had lower germination rates of 0-76% (Gucker 2011). Seeds are collected when they form a white fluffy fan at the top of the culms and when they readily detach from the plant. Gently collect seed tufts by hand, removing them from the culms. https://rngr.net/npn/propagation/protocols/bothriochloa-barbinodis-bothriochloa#:~:text=Propagation%20Collection:,Propagation%20Processing/Propagule%20Characteristics:
Clump division Division Carefully dig around the clump, ensuring you lift the entire root system. Using a sharp spade or garden knife, divide the clump into smaller sections, each with a good amount of roots and shoots. Replant the divided sections immediately in prepared garden beds, spacing them according to the desired density and watering them in thoroughly. While drought-tolerant once established, Cane Bluestem benefits from regular watering during its first year, especially during hot, dry periods. The best time to divide Cane Bluestem is in early spring when new growth begins to emerge. https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-bothriochloa-barbinodis/
Seed Stratification Cane Bluestem seeds benefit from a period of cold stratification to improve germination rates. You have two options: Direct Sowing: In the late fall, sow seeds directly into prepared garden beds after the first frost. This allows them to undergo natural cold stratification over winter. Indoor Sowing: For an early spring start, mimic natural stratification by mixing the seeds with damp vermiculite in a sealed plastic bag and storing them in the refrigerator for 6-8 weeks. Sow the chilled seeds in seed trays filled with a well-draining seed starting mix, lightly covering them with soil. Cane Bluestem thrives in full sun to partial shade and well-draining soil. Keep the soil consistently moist until the seedlings are established. Expect germination to occur within 2-4 weeks after sowing indoors or in the spring for direct-sown seeds. The optimal time to collect Cane Bluestem seeds is in the fall when the fluffy, silver seed heads mature. Snip the seed heads with sharp shears and store them in a paper bag in a cool, dry location until you’re ready to sow. https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-bothriochloa-barbinodis/
Previous Scientific Name(s): Andropogon barbinodis, Andropogon perforatus, Bothriochloa barbinodis var. palmeri, Bothriochloa barbinodis var. perforata, Bothriochloa palmeri

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our four host chapters (New Braunfels, Lindheimer, Guadalupe, and the Hill Country chapters) are located in one or both of the ecoregions above. However, the eastern portion of Guadalupe County also falls within the Post Oak Savanna ecoregion. Annual rainfall averages 35 to 45 inches, with higher averages to the east. A wide variety of hardwood trees are found, including several species of oaks, elms, and in the Bastrop area, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda). Grasses and forbs dominate in the open savannas, with most common grass being little bluestem. Ranching, agriculture, and fire suppression have allowed woody species to encroach on the once-open savannas.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason