Quick Search: Big Bluestem - Displayed by Common Name in Ascending Order

Big Bluestem are perfect for providing height and color to the garden, coming into prime a little earlier than other ornamental grasses. The foliage of ‘Blackhawks’ emerges deep green to dark purple in spring and deepens to near black by fall here in Michigan. This grass matures a little more than a foot shorter than ‘Indian Warrior’. One of the very best Big Bluestem from hybridizer Brent Horvath.

Dubbed the "monarch of the prairie", this native grass was once the dominant component of the American tallgrass prairie. It adapts easily to a wide range of soil and moisture conditions as long as full sun is provided. This long-lived grass has a variety of uses including screening, naturalizing, restoring prairies, and nesting materials for birds and mammals.

This wonderful selection of native prairie grass will reach five to six feet tall with foliage that develops red highlights, then turns burgundy-copper in fall; deep red flowers held on red stems in late summer; plant in full sun for best color.

'Rain Dance' features red-tipped foliage, deeper green than the species, that turns totally maroon in fall. In fact, cool temperatures spread the red, painting every blade maroon. Adding to the interest are upright, rich red flower spike clusters up to 4 inches long on red stems in varying tones. Seed heads branch into three parts (hence the common nickname "turkeyfoot grass"). They open and dance attractively despite the unattractive moniker.

Part of its attraction is its dizzying array of red, maroon, scarlet and green tones. Blooms appear from approximately August until frost, but the gorgeous, vibrant coloring gives it interest in summer and winter alike.