FNPS Plant Database

Andropogon virginicus

broomsedge bluestem
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

broomsedge bluestem

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Andropogon virginicus

Family:

Poaceae (Gramineae)

Plant Specifics

Form:

Grass

Size:

3–5 ft tall by 0.5 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

green

Fruit Color:

orange

Phenology:

Winter dormant

Noted For:

Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Background planting or as a casual tall bunching or clumping grass in meadow-like settings.

Considerations:

Can be aggressive in disturbed lands.

Availability:

Seed

Propagation:

Seed, division of clumps.

Light:

Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry

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Usually moist, occasional inundation -to- Somewhat long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Soil pH:

Suitable to Grow In:

8A, 8B, 9A, 9B, 10A, 10B

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.

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Vouchered In:

Distribution
Vouchered
Not vouchered
Selected
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No county distribution is available for this plant yet.
Starting…
Map coded by Melissa Fernandez-de Cespedes (Paynes Prairie Chapter)

Ecology

Wildlife:

Butterflies, Caterpillars, Birds, Mammals

Larval host for zabulon skipper ( Poanes zabulon ), Common Wood-Nymph ( Cercyonis pegala ), Swarthy Skipper ( Nastra lherminier ), Neamathia Skipper ( Nastra neamathla ), Crossline Skipper ( Polites origenes ), Delaware Skipper (em>Anatrytone logan), and Twin-spot Skipper ( Oligoria maculata ).

Provides food and nesting material for many small birds and other small animals.

Native Habitats:

Open seepage areas, flatwoods, marshes, ruderal areas

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

This plant can be used as a background planting that will create a light orange haze during the late fall and winter months. Andropogon virgnicus var. Glaucus (chalky bluestem) is very light blue-green in color and grows in dry sites.
FNPS Plant Print

Citations:

Huegel, Craig N. (2012). Native Wildflowers and Other Ground Covers for Florida Landscapes. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.


Minno, M., J. Butler, and D. Hall. (2005). Florida Butterfly Caterpillars and Their Host Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.


Wunderlin, R. P, B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. (1999+). Atlas of Florida Plants. ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.

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