Download Broomsedge Bluestem Scientific Name

Common Name:
Broomsedge Bluestem
Scientific Name:
Andropogon virginicus
Order: Cyperales
Family: Poaceae
Wetland Plant Status:
Facultative
Ecology & Description
Broomsedge bluestem is a
perennial plant that is considered
as a native warm-season bunchgrass that grows 2’-4’ tall. It usually has a flat, yellow base and
grows in small tufts. The upper portion of the plant is freely branching. The leaves grow 10”-15”
tall and, when mature, will turn a pale yellow. The seeds are partly enclosed in a sheath. Seeds
are produced on the upper portion of the plant and will be dispersed by the wind when mature.
Habitat
Broomsedge bluestem can grow in many different types of soils, but grows mainly on soils that
are moist, loose, and sandy. It primarily grows in areas that with at least 25” of rainfall a year. It
is found mostly in uplands and woodlands but may invade overgrazed ranges and farmlands.
Distribution
It is commonly found in piney-woods, gulf prairies and marshes, post oak savannah, black-land
prairies, cross timbers and prairies, South Texas plains, and Edwards plateau.
Native/Invasive Status
This plant is native to most of the Eastern region in the United States. However, it is referred to
as a noxious weed in some areas due to its invasive nature.
Wildlife Uses
Terrestrial birds and large mammals often use this plant’s seeds as a minor source of food. It also
may be used as cover by terrestrial birds, such as wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) and northern
bobwhite (Colinus virginianus).
Establishment, Management, & Control Techniques
To establish broomsedge bluestem in an area, it is best to do so through direct seeding on a
seedbed that has been treated with herbicide to kill the existing seeds in the soil. The seeds
should not be planted deeper the ¼” in the soil. Plant the seeds in the spring when the
temperature is at least 55˚F. Allow at least 2-3 years for the stand to establish. Mowing and the
application of selective herbicides (e.g., Imazapic) can aid in weed control. Glyphosate
herbicides can be used to control stands of broomsedge bluestem.
Reference
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). 2015. PLANTS Database. Plants Data Team,
United States Department of Agriculture, Greensboro, North Carolina. Online.
<http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=ANVI2> Accessed 11 Aug 2015.
This document was authored by Tyler Durbin, School of Forestry, Louisiana Tech
University, March 2015.