We have ordered a variety of native flower seeds from Everwilde Farms, which you can order right from Amazon through our link on our RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS PAGE. Below is my short process on germinating Big Bluestem. Also, I have no affiliation with this company whatsoever, I just really like buying grass seed from them. I’ve purchased from Roundstone seed several times, and find the quality and prices to be exceptional. The first year it will only grow to several feet high, but by the second or third year it should be topping 8-10′. Growing Big Bluestem from seed is incredibly easy. Big Bluestem emerging in Spring How to Establish Big Bluestem So, I always suggest waiting until Spring temperatures have warmed sufficiently to where any larva would have emerged. You can do this earlier, however there may be beneficial insects wintering inside the large stalks. In Spring when insects are waking up, you can cut down and remove the stalks/foliage from the previous season. If you grow this in conditions that it prefers (full sun, moist soil) then you will have virtually no problems growing healthy plants. How much slower will depend on the temperature. So if temperatures are below or above this it will grow slower. The optimum temperature for Big Bluestem to grow has been found to be 25 Celsius, or 77 Fahrenheit. This was the most dominant prairie grass for it size and versatility. It is quite versatile in that it can grow in almost any soil type, from clay to loam, and even slightly sandy. It can take dry conditions also, but may not be as tall and vigorous. So perhaps the extremely deep roots serve another primary purpose? Growing Conditions for Big Bluestemīig Bluestem grows best in full sun and slightly moist soil. Interestingly, recent studies are suggesting that the deep roots don’t seem to be that important for water uptake. Most of the root mass is concentrating in the top 1-2′ of the soil. Roots of Big Bluestem consist of short rhizomes that go a couple inches deep, and fibrous roots that can extend 10′ deep in the soil. The color will change to a golden brown in Autumn. The color is reddish-purple when blooming. The top of the stalk will split into 3 smaller stems, each containing dozens of spikelets. The flower of Big Bluestem is paired spikelets that occur along the upper stems of the stalk. They wrap around the stalk by more than 50% of the stalk diameter. Leaves are long and slender, being only 1/2″-1″ across but 10″ long or more. Very erect and large, the stalks of Big Bluestem all emanate form a central clump. By August it should be reaching its maximum height for the growing season, which in optimum conditions (full sun, moist soil) should be 8-10′. This tall perennial grass that is blueish green during the Spring and Summer, and eventually turns to gold/brown tan. The Scientific Name of Big Bluestem is Andropogon gerardiiīig Bluestem Identification and Physical Description.The grass by itself, when dried was used by Native Americans in a variety of ways.
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