Andropogon gerardi var. gerardi
Andropogon gerardi var. gerardi
- Native to:
- Canada | MB, ON, QC, SK | Mexico | Mexico Central, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest | United States | AL, AR, AZ, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WI, WV, WY | Virgin Islands
GBIF: Brandon Corder
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Genus:
- Andropogon
- Species:
- Andropogon gerardi var. gerardi
Growth Characteristics
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 240 cm
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- jul,aug,sep,oct
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★☆☆☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals, grazing mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fall Color:
- orange, red, bronze
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Big bluestem vigorously resprouts from deep rhizomes after fire and benefits from periodic burning which removes thatch and stimulates growth. Historic fire return interval of 1-3 years in tallgrass prairie maintained dominance.
Source: Claude claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929 Batch
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate best with light exposure and warm temperatures (20-30°C) following cold stratification. Fresh seed germinates more readily than aged seed.
Source: Claude claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929 Batch