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#6861
PRAIRIE WINDS® BLUE STEEL BIG BLUESTEM
Andropogon gerardii
PPAF Plant propagation prohibited
Currently Unavailable
THIS PLANT IS PROHIBITED IN THESE STATES: OR, UT (Details)
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Please call to pre-order (918) 453-0771.
Eco gallon Potted
(SKU: 20357)
0 - Available Now -
Details
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List Price $35.00 Per Plant
Hardiness Zone: 3-9 · Mature Height: 4-5 Feet · Mature Spread: 2-3 Feet
Give your garden a cool, confident edge with Prairie Winds® Blue Steel Big Bluestem, a grass that lives up to its name with striking steel-blue foliage and moody purple highlights. From the moment it emerges, this grass sets a serene yet commanding tone, delivering a rare blue-forward palette in a genus more often celebrated for fiery fall colors. As summer deepens, the pigments intensify, making the plant look as though it's been brushed with soft violet shadows.
When autumn arrives, Prairie Winds® Blue Steel Big Bluestem stages an encore performance. Tall flower spikes rise above the upright clump, echoing the foliage's blue-purple hues and adding vertical movement to the landscape. Even after frost, this selection remains beautifully structural—its blades and seedheads persist as sculptural winter silhouettes, catching morning light and snow with elegance. Whether you lean naturalistic or modern in your design style, this Big Bluestem offers texture, height, and long-lasting presence.
A true child of the American prairie, Prairie Winds® Blue Steel Big Bluestem thrives on resilience. Its deep roots anchor it through drought, wind, clay soils, and temperature swings. Low-maintenance and dependable, it's an easy choice for restoration plantings, meadow gardens, screening, wildlife habitats, and contemporary designs where color, structure, and ecological value take center stage. Tough, beautiful, and unmistakably blue—this is Big Bluestem with personality.
Family: Poaceae · Common Name: Big Bluestem
Grasses cannot be shipped into Oregon and Utah.
FREE with every plant purchased:
- The Sooner Guarantee: For details, click here!
- A pre-applied, pre-measured amount of time release fertilizer that keeps your plant well nourished for up to one year.
- Pre-hydrated Hydro-Gels are included in the top of each container to use when planting as they help retain soil moisture, and plants will establish more quickly with less transplant shock. Plants will also survive drought-like conditions and accidental missed waterings better.
- Planting and Care Instruction brochure.
- Catalogs of new and exciting plant brands, such as Garden Debut® and Proven Winners®.
We use and recommend www.dripdepot.com for our irrigation needs, from simple to install micro and drip systems, to commercial grade irrigation parts and supplies.
PRAIRIE WINDS® BLUE STEEL BIG BLUESTEM Plant Characteristics
Brand*
| • | Proven Winners® Perennials |
Cultural Information*
| • | Leaf Scorch - High Resistance |
| • | Leaf Spot - Moderate Resistance |
| • | Powdery Mildew - High Resistance |
| • | Root Rot - Moderate Resistance |
Flower Color*
| • | Bronze/Tan/Brown |
Fruit Type*
| • | Non-Edible Fruit |
Growth Habit*
| • | Specimen |
Growth Rate*
| • | Fast |
Leaf Color Winter*
| • | Beige/Brown |
Leaf Type*
| • | Deciduous/Herbaceous |
Plant Type*
| • | Ornamental Grass |
Preferred Soil Conditions*
| • | Adapts Well to Most Soil Types |
| • | Average |
| • | Drought Tolerant |
| • | Moist |
| • | Prefers Low pH (Acidic Soils) |
| • | Salt Tolerant |
| • | Tolerates High pH (Alkaline Soils) |
| • | Tolerates Low pH (Acidic Soils) |
| • | Well-Drained |
Season of Interest*
| • | Fall |
| • | Late Spring/Early Summer |
| • | Late Summer/Early Autumn |
| • | Spring |
| • | Summer |
| • | Summer Flowering |
| • | Winter |
| • | Year-Round |
Uses*
| • | Accent Plant |
| • | Border Plant |
| • | Erosion Control |
| • | Landscape Specimen |
| • | Mass Planting |
| • | Rock Gardens |
| • | Under Power Lines |
0 review(s) for PRAIRIE WINDS® BLUE STEEL BIG BLUESTEM
PRAIRIE WINDS® BLUE STEEL BIG BLUESTEM Homeowner Growing & Maintenance Tips
- Recommended Soil:
- Prefers average to lean, well-drained soil.
- Performs strongly in clay, sandy, or rocky conditions.
- Avoid overly rich soils, which may cause flopping.
- Sun Exposure:
- Requires full sun for best color and strongest form.
- Can tolerate light afternoon shade but may lose intensity.
- Ideal for open, bright landscapes.
- Irrigation Needs:
- Water regularly during establishment.
- Once mature, highly drought tolerant thanks to deep roots.
- Does not require supplemental irrigation in most climates.
- Feeding & Nutrients:
- Fertilizing is typically unnecessary; excessive nutrients reduce its upright habit.
- A thin layer of compost in spring is optional but not required.
- Prefers low-input, low-fertility conditions.
- Pruning & Maintenance:
- Cut back to 4–6" in late winter or early spring before new growth emerges.
- Forms a sturdy clump that rarely needs dividing.
- Highly resistant to deer, pests, and diseases.
- Leave heads standing through winter for habitat and visual interest.
Interesting Notes About PRAIRIE WINDS® BLUE STEEL BIG BLUESTEM
- The True "Blue" Bluestem: While many Big Bluestems lean red in fall, 'Blue Steel' stands out with a steel-blue and purple palette that stays cool-toned through the growing season.
- Prairie Royalty: Big Bluestem was historically called the "monarch of the prairie" for its towering height and dominance across millions of acres of tallgrass ecosystems.
- Wildlife Architect: Its dense clumps provide nesting materials and cover for birds, small mammals, and beneficial insects—making it a natural fit for wildlife gardens.
- Clay Soil Champion: Unlike many ornamental grasses, 'Blue Steel' handles heavy clay with ease, thanks to its robust prairie-adapted root system.
- Winter Sculptor: Even after frost, its upright blades and seedheads stand strong, creating sculptural forms that transform winter landscapes into natural art.
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