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Andropogon virginicus
Also called Broom Sedge, Broom Sedge Bluestem, Whiskey Grass, Whisky Grass, Smooth Bluestem, Virginia Beard Grass, Yellow Bluestem
Broomsedge bluestem is a slender, drought-tolerant native bunchgrass of the southeastern US, grown for erosion control, rain gardens and naturalistic landscapes. The key is full sun and lean, well-drained soil, since it struggles in rich, wet conditions.
Andropogon virginicus is a species of grass known by several common names, including broomsedge bluestem, yellowsedge bluestem and (in Australia, because it was introduced to that country after being used as packaging for bottles of American whiskey) whiskey grass. It is native to the southeastern United States and as far north as the Great Lakes. It is known as an introduced species in California and Hawaii, where it is weedy.
Andropogon virginicus is native in the lower forty-eight states, as well as Puerto Rico and Canada. This plant species was introduced into Hawaii as well as California, Japan, New Zealand and other areas. It is also considered native to the Bahamas, Belize, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panamá, Puerto Rico, Trinidad-Tobago, and Venezuela.
Andropogon virgincus is typically used for erosion control, rain gardens, and stormwater management. This grass is very drought tolerant, can survive infertile soils, and is adaptable to sites where grading and construction is heavy. This bunchgrass provides nesting material and cover specifically for quail, turkeys, and other birds. It is not considered important for cattle forage. Still it provides some livestock and wildlife grazing opportunities in spring and early summer. Small birds use broomsedge seeds in the winter when other food is limited. It is a larval host for Poanes zabulon, the Skipper butterfly. Andropogon virgincus can be used as an ornamental plant. Since it requires little water to survive, many golf courses use it for landscaping, as it also adds color to landscapes. Andropogon virginicus has been used as the straw base for the production of handmade brooms in the southeastern United States.
Bluestem · Big bluestem · Bushy bluestem · Sand bluestem · Bluestem
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Andropogon virginicus by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
