NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details
Andropogon gerardi [= Andropogon gerardii]
Big Bluestem, Turkeyfoot
Scientific Name: |
Andropogon gerardi [= Andropogon gerardii] |
|---|---|
Genus: |
Andropogon |
Species Epithet: |
gerardi |
Common Name: |
Big Bluestem, Turkeyfoot |
Plant Type |
Grass/Sedge/Rush |
Life Cycle |
Perennial |
Plant Family |
Poaceae (Grass Family) |
Native/Alien: |
NC Native |
Invasive Status: |
(*Key) |
Size: |
3-6 ft., 6-12 ft. |
Bloom Color(s): |
Yellow, Brown |
Light: |
Sun - 6 or more hours of sun per day |
Soil Moisture: |
Dry, Moist |
Bloom Time: |
July, August, September, October |
Growing Area: |
Mountains, Piedmont, Sandhills, Coastal Plain |
Habitat Description: |
In a wide variety of habitats, usually rather dry, such as sandhills, glades, cliffs, and rock outcrops, in the Piedmont in woodlands, former prairie-like sites, woodlands, open forests, and river-scour grasslands, in the Mountains in glades, riverside scour areas, and rarely in grassy balds, ascending to at least 1600 m over mafic rocks (on Old Field Bald, Watauga and Ashe counties, NC). Common throughout NC. |
Leaf Arrangement: |
Alternate, Basal |
Leaf Retention: |
Deciduous |
Leaf Type: |
Leaves veined, not needle-like or scale-like |
Leaf Form: |
Simple |
Life Cycle: |
Perennial |
Wildlife Value: |
Important for Wildlife |
Landscape Value: |
Highly Recommended and Available |
State Rank: |
S4: Apparently secure, S5: Secure (*Key) |
Global Rank: |
G5 - Secure (*Key) |
Notes: |
Valuable forage grass. |
|
Minnesota prairie in April
Bettina Darveaux |
|
|
Close-up showing stamens and feathery stigmas Minnesota prairie
Bettina Darveaux |
|
Links: |
NC Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/andropogon-gerardi/ Vascular Plants of NC: https://auth1.dpr.ncparks.gov/flora/species_account.php 700 Bird-friendly Plants for NC: https://nc.audubon.org/700 |
![The Scientific Name is Andropogon gerardi [= Andropogon gerardii]. You will likely hear them called Big Bluestem, Turkeyfoot. This picture shows the of Andropogon gerardi [= Andropogon gerardii]](https://ncwildflower.org/images/plants/IMG_1706.jpg "of Andropogon gerardi [= Andropogon gerardii]")
![The Scientific Name is Andropogon gerardi [= Andropogon gerardii]. You will likely hear them called Big Bluestem, Turkeyfoot. This picture shows the Close-up showing stamens and feathery stigmas of Andropogon gerardi [= Andropogon gerardii]](https://ncwildflower.org/images/plants/IMG_1709.jpg "Close-up showing stamens and feathery stigmas of Andropogon gerardi [= Andropogon gerardii]")
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