Join / Renew / Gift Donate Shop Member Portal Language

Search
npsot_bluebonnet_full_color

Native Plant Society of Texas

Bushy Bluestem

Andropogon glomeratus

Other common name(s):

Brushy 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.

Central Great Plains, Chihuahuan Deserts, Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, High Plains, Southern Texas Plains, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Broken Red Plains, Limestone Plains
Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands, Chihuahuan Montane Woodlands, Low Mountains and Bajadas, Stockton Plateau
Eastern Cross Timbers, Grand Prairie, Limestone Cut Plain, Western Cross Timbers
Bastrop Lost Pines, Floodplains and Low Terraces2, Northern Post Oak Savanna, San Antonio Prairie, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Balcones Canyonlands, Edwards Plateau Woodland, Llano Uplift, Semiarid Edwards Plateau
Coastal Sand Plain, Floodplains and Low Terraces4, Laguna Madre Barrier Island and Coastal Marshes, Lower Rio Grande Alluvial Floodplain, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Mid-Coast Barrier Islands and Coastal Marshes, Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Southern Subhumid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Texas-Louisiana Coastal Marshes
Shinnery Sands
Northern Nueces Alluvial Plains, Rio Grande Floodplain and Terraces, Semiarid Edwards Bajada, Texas-Tamaulipan Thornscrub
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie
Flatwoods, Floodplains and Low Terraces3, Southern Tertiary Uplands, Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Grass & Sedge

Height

3
to
6
ft.

Spread

1
to
2
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Clay, Loam, Moist, Poor Drainage, Saline, Sand

Light Requirement

Sun

Water Requirement

High

Native Habitat

Grassland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Brown

Bloom Season

Fall

Seasonal Interest

Fall Color, Forage, Larval Host, Nesting Material, Seeds

Wildlife Benefit

Bees, Birds, Browsers, Butterflies, Small Mammals

Maintenance

Ideal as an attractive bunchgrass for wetland gardens. In the wild, it grows in sunny, low-lying grasslands and roadside ditches. Tolerates salinity. Full sun and moisture essential. Leave dead stems standing through fall and winter for insect habitat. Cut back dead stems in February before spring growth. Leaves turn a copper color in the fall. Native habitat: low, moist areas, grassland swales, roadside ditches.

Description

Blooms August-November. A warm-season, tall bunchgrass with long leaves and large, fluffy seed heads. Larval host: Skippers and Satyrs, Common Wood-Nymph (Cercyonis pegala)

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Clump Division Divide during winter dormancy. Divide clumps with roots attached and liberal amounts of root-laden soil onto wet mineral soils in late winter or early spring. The plants should be spaced at 18 inches because the rate of spread is slow. Spread is generally less than 0.2 feet per year in unconsolidated sediment. Carefully dig around the clump, ensuring you don’t damage the root system. Using a sharp spade or garden knife, divide the clump into smaller sections, each containing a healthy portion of roots and shoots. 1) https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/pg_angl2.pdf 2) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ANGL2 3) chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-andropogon-glomeratus/?print=pdf
Seed No Treatment When planting from seed, do so when ground is no longer frozen in spring and after the date of the last projected frost. Sow seeds on the surface, pressing them lightly without burying them. These seeds need light to germinate. They will germinate in a few weeks. Keep weeds away from seeds and young seedlings, as they compete with the grass for nutrients and water. Keep growing seeds moist, but not soggy, until they have some growth. While bushy bluestem seed will tolerate in poor soils, the best initial growth is in moist soil. When growing as a landscape plant, mulch helps hold in moisture. Place the mulch about 3 inches (8 cm.) thick, but don’t let it touch the stems. If started indoors, Gradually Introduce them to the Outdoors: Once the danger of frost has passed and your seedlings have developed a robust root system, it’s time to harden them off. This process involves gradually acclimating the young plants to outdoor conditions. Seeds are produced 6-8 weeks from when the culms are produced 1) https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/foliage/bushy-beardgrass/what-is-bushy-beardgrass.htm 2) https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/pg_anvi2.pdf
Stem Cutting Dip stems in rooting hormone, and planted in moist, well-draining soil. Ensure they receive consistent moisture until roots develop. Cuttings can be taken from young stems in the summer. https://mygardenchannel.com/care-guide-to-bushy-bluestem-grass/

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