Broomsedge Bluestem

Anatherum virginicum

Broomsedge Bluestem

Harry Rose from South West Rocks, Australia

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Poaceae
Genus:
Anatherum
Species:
Anatherum virginicum

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Graminoid
Height:
6-8 ft
Light Requirements:
Part Shade
Bloom Months:
sep, oct, nov
Bloom Colors:
Yellow

Native Range

United States: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands, Virginia, West Virginia, Canada: Ontario

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:
★★★★☆ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Draudtia revellata, Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), Lacinipolia meditata

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
thrives in open, sunny areas

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: None required

Establishment: Seeds are collected from various locations within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and other National Park Service sites. The species is widely distributed throughout the eastern United States and grows in relatively sterile, sandy soils of abandoned fields and thin woodlands, roadsides, waste areas.

Source: npn.rngr.net