CHET SAND BLUESTEM
Summary
Sand Bluestem is a native, perennial, warms season bunchgrass which can reach heights of 7 feet. Sand bluestem reproduces by both seed and rhizomes. Sand Bluestem is considered a poor seed producer in its native habitat and spreads mainly by rhizomes. Sand Bluestem occurs on native prairies west of the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains and from Canada to Mexico. Sand Bluestem is considered an important part of the prairie and is generally used in all sandy land native mixes. Forage production is good to excellent in quality and when heavily grazed it will decrease in relation to most other species. Breeding efforts have resulted in varieties with improvements in seedling vigor, seed production, and forage production.
Plant Characteristics
Taxonomy
Zone
- Regional Growing Zone
- 3 - Southern Mountain, 4 - Mountain, 6 - Northeast Lakes, 7 - Great Lakes South, 8 - Appalacia, 11 - South Texas, 12 - Southwest
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zones
- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
- Temperature Zone
- Warm, Cool, Transitional
Plant Characteristics
- Height
- 60" - 84"
- Bloom Period
- Mid-Summer
- Bloom Color
- Yellow
- Leaf Color
- Blue-Green
- Growing Cycle
- Perennial
- Growth Habit
- Bunch-Type
- Sun Requirement
- Full Sun
Plant Information
- Planting Season
- Spring - Early-Summer
- Plant Depth
- .25" - .5"
- Minimum Soil Temp for Germination
- 50° F
- Establishment
- Easy
Seed Information
- Seeds Per Pound
- 100,000
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Tracheobionta
- Super Division
- Spermatophyta
- Division
- Magnoliophyta
- Class
- Lillocida
- Subclass
- Commelinidae
- Order
- Cyperales
- Family
- Poaceae
- Genus
- Andropogon
- Species
- Androphon hallii
Coverage Area & Available Sizes
Applications
Sand Bluestem is used extensively in soil conservation because its adaptation to sand and extension root system.
Sand Bluestem is a good to excellent forage due to its high palatability and high yield. Forage should be harvested prior to seedhead formation as palatability rapidly decreases once it reaches maturity which is true of most of native grasses.
Sand Bluestem makes an attract landscape plant in sandy type soils. Its ability to tolerate stresses makes it very desirable as a low-maintenance species
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