Scientific Name:
ANDROPOGON GERARDII
Common Name:
BIG BLUESTEM
Erosion Index:
EXCELLENT
Erosion Index Value:
9.05
Wildlife Index:
GOOD
Wildlife Index Value:
7.18
Ecological Distribution:
PINEYWOODS, GULF PRAIRIES AND MARSHES, POST OAK SAVANNAH, BLACKLAND
PRAIRIES, CROSS TIMBERS AND PRAIRIES, SOUTH TEXAS PLAINS, EDWARDS
PLATEAU, ROLLING PLAINS, HIGH PLAINS, TRANS-PECOS
Topographic Tolerance:
UPLAND, BOTTOMLAND
Elevation Tolerance:
TOLERANT OVER WIDE ELEVATION RANGE
Slope Tolerance:
TOLERANT OVER WIDE SLOPE RANGE
Aspect Tolerance:
TOLERANT ACROSS RANGE
Light Tolerance:
TOLERANT TO FULL SUN
Wetland Regional Indicator:
FACULTATIVE UPLAND
Physical Form:
GRASS
Habit:
OTHER
Life Cycle:
PERENNIAL
Seed Age:
1 TO 4 YEARS OLD
Seed Interval:
1 YEAR OR LESS
Growth:
RAPID GROWTH, LONG-LIVED, TUFTED BUNCHGRASS, SOD-FORMING, DENSE FOLIAGE, DEEP ROOTED
Hardiness:
GRAZING TOLERANT, FIRE TOLERANT, INSECT TOLERANT, COLD TOLERANT
Vegetative Growth Period:
APR, MAY, JUN, JUL, AUG, SEP, OCT
Flowering Period:
AUG, SEP, OCT
Fruiting Period:
AUG, SEP, OCT
Soil Moisture:
WELL-DRAINED ONLY
Soil Texture:
TOLERANT TO CLAYEY SOILS, TOLERANT TO SILTY SOILS, TOLERANT TO LOAMY SOILS, TOLERANT TO SANDY SOILS
Soil Fertility:
HIGH SOIL FERTILITY
Parent Material:
TOLERANT OVER WIDE RANGE
Soil pH:
SLIGHTLY ACIDIC, NEUTRAL
Optimum pH:
SLIGHTLY ACIDIC
Soil Depth:
MODERATELY DEEP SOIL (12 - 36 IN.)
Salinity:
OBLIGATE TO NON-SALINE (FRESH) SOIL/WATER CONDITIONS
Short-term Biomass:
MEDIUM
Short-term Pest:
NONE KNOWN
Long-term Biomass:
HIGH
Long-term Pest:
NONE KNOWN
Dominance Characteristics:
DOMINANT
Honeybee Relations:
POLLINATED WITHOUT BEES, NOT HONEY PRODUCING
Parasite Host Potential:
NONE KNOWN
Food for Wildlife/Livestock:
NONGAME BIRDS, CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS, HORSES
Small Mammal Food:
FAIR
Large Mammal Food:
FAIR
Upland Game Birds Food:
FAIR
Waterfowl Food:
FAIR
Nongame Birds Food:
GOOD
Small Mammal Cover:
EXCELLENT
Large Mammal Cover:
EXCELLENT
Upland Game Birds Cover:
EXCELLENT
Waterfowl Cover:
GOOD
Nongame Birds Cover:
EXCELLENT
Toxicity Potential:
NONE KNOWN
Toxicity Season:
Effectiveness Period:
SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM
Raindrop Impact:
MEDIUM
Erosion Hardiness:
HIGH
Ease of Propagation:
HIGH
Soil Binding:
HIGH
Soil Enrichment Potential:
LOW
Nitrogen Fixation Potential:
LOW
Growth Inhibitor Production:
LOW
Source Availability:
SPECIALIZED COMMERCIAL OR WHOLESALE OUTLET, HARVEST FROM LOCAL WILD STOCK
Seed Germination Ratio:
LOW
Reproduction:
SEEDS, RHIZOMES
Seed Dispersal Success Potential:
GRAVITY, WIND
Seed Establishment Success Potential:
MEDIUM
Cuttings Establishment Success Potential:
LOW
Transplanting Establishment Success Potential:
LOW
Establishment Time Interval:
OVER 3 YEARS
Recommended Establishment:
SEEDS
Relative Expense:
MODERATELY EXPENSIVE
Notes:
- A beautiful tall, leafy, bunch grass of high quality often called "Turkey
Foot" because of the 3 parts of the seed head.
- One of the 4 primary tall grasses of the Bluestem Belt, the others being
Little Bluestem, Yellow Indiangrass, and Switchgrass.
- High yield and palatability.
- Dead leaves form a good protective ground cover.
- Strong deep roots effective in erosion control.
- Excellent livestock forage if grazed properly.
- See Yellow Indiangrass for other species.
Associated Species:
BUFFALOGRASS
CATCLAW SENSITIVEBRIAR
EASTERN
GRAMAGRASS
GREEN
SPRANGLETOP
ILLINOIS
BUNDLEFLOWER
LITTLE
BLUESTEM
MAXIMILIAN
SUNFLOWER
ROUNDHEAD
BUSHCLOVER
SESSILELEAF
TICKCLOVER
SIDEOATS
GRAMA
SWITCHGRASS
YELLOW INDIANGRASS