• Purple ornamental grass with slender stems and dark purple-brown seed heads, photographed outdoors against a blurred green garden background. - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.
  • Purple-toned ornamental grass with fine, wispy seed heads and narrow blue-green leaves, photographed outdoors against a blurred green foliage background. - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.
  • A tall ornamental grass plant with narrow silvery-blue leaves and dark purple-brown seed heads, growing in a mulched garden bed with grass and shrubs in the background. - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.
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Prairie Winds® 'Blue Steel' Big Bluestem (Andropogon)

PERENNIAL - Proven Winners®
  • Dense Blue Foliage,
  • Late Summer Flower Spikes,
  • Native
    • $19.99
      $19.99
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      Description

      (Big Bluestem) Cool color and strong vertical form make Andropogon PRAIRIE WINDS® 'Blue Steel' a standout among native ornamental grasses. Dense, upright clumps of striking steel-blue foliage develop subtle purple highlights, creating season-long color and texture. As fall approaches, those purple tones become more noticeable just as smoky purple flower spikes begin to appear, adding another layer of interest to the landscape.

      Reaching approximately 4½ feet tall and 2½ feet wide, this tall perennial grass maintains a sturdy, upright habit without requiring a large footprint. Hardy in USDA Zones 3–9, it thrives in full sun and handles a variety of growing conditions. Average to lean, well-drained soils are ideal, and once established, PRAIRIE WINDS® 'Blue Steel' is drought tolerant and requires little maintenance.

      Blooming in late summer into fall, the flower spikes eventually develop into attractive seed heads that can remain standing for added fall and winter interest. Both deer and rabbits tend to leave this grass alone, making it a practical choice where browsing is common. The stems, foliage, and seed heads can also be used as cut or dried material in arrangements.

      Big Bluestem is native to North America, bringing native beauty and prairie character to the landscape. With its distinctive blue foliage, impressive height, and durable nature, Andropogon PRAIRIE WINDS® 'Blue Steel' provides structure and interest well beyond the summer season. Andropogon PRAIRIE WINDS® 'Blue Steel' is part of the Proven Winners® perennial collection.

      More Details

      Botanical Name: Andropogon hybrid 'Blue Steel' PP37,393 PRAIRIE WINDS®
      Common Name: Big Bluestem
      Sunlight: Full Sun (+6 hrs.)
      Critter Resistance: Deer, Rabbit
      Bloom Time: Late Summer, Fall
      Flower Color: Blue Shades, Purple Shades
      Water Requirements: Low Water Needs, Average Water Needs, High Water Needs
      USDA Hardiness Zone: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
      Attributes: Cut Flower or Foliage, Dried Flower, Drought Tolerant, Easy to Grow, Native
      Design Use: Border, Massing, Specimen
      Container Design: Thriller
      Garden Style: Asian, Cottage, Eclectic, Formal, Modern
      Soil Quality: Average, Poor
      Blooms On: This Year's Growth
      Growth Habit: Upright
      Growth Rate: Average
      Foliage Color: Blue Shades, Purple Shades

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