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Poaceae FAMILY

Andropogon gerardii

Andropogon gerardii

Edibility
0/5
Medicinal
2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Cultivation Details

HabitPerennial
Growth—

Andropogon gerardii has a wide native range, growing from the prairies of southern Canada to higher elevations in the tropical regions of MesoAmerica. In the temperate zone it is found in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 10 - 20°c, but can tolerate 3 - 28°c[1]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -15°c, but young growth can be severely damaged at -5°c[1]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 700 - 1,200mm, but tolerates 350 - 2,800mm[1]. Requires a light porous sandy soil in full sun[2]. Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun[3]. The plant is tolerant of a wide range of soils and growing conditions[3]. It puts out lots of growth in moist, fertile soils, but is less apt to topple in dryish, infertile soils[3]. It prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, but tolerates 4.5 - 7.6[1]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[3]. The plant freely self-seeds in optimum growing conditions[3]. It develops an extensive root system and is somewhat slow to establish, but, once established, is easy to maintain[3]. A very ornamental plant, it forms large clumps, spreading by short stolons[2]. Various cultivars have been developed, many of these especially for use in rehabilitating prairie land with native grass species[4].

Propagation

Seed - surface sow in early spring in a greenhouse. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on for the first winter in a cold greenhouse. Plant out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in spring. Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Andropogon+gerardii>

Pollinators

Wind

References

  1. [1]Ecocrop — http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home ↩︎Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
  2. [2]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
  3. [3]KemperCentreForHomeGardeningPlantFinder — Missouri Botanical Garden · http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/ ↩︎Basic cultivation details, plant uses, habitat etc for several thousand species of plants, mainly from the temperate zone.
  4. [4]Fire Effects Information System — http://www.feis-crs.org/feis/ ↩︎An on-line information site with comprehensive information on over 1,100 species of plant. Mainly developed to supply information on the effects of fire on plants and animals, it also contains a wealth of other information on the plants
  5. [5]A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. — Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. · Houghton Mifflin Co. · 1990 · ISBN 0395467225 ↩︎A concise book dealing with almost 500 species. A line drawing of each plant is included plus colour photographs of about 100 species. Very good as a field guide, it only gives brief details about the plants medicinal properties.
  6. [6]Manual of the Grasses of the United States — Hitchcock. A. S. · Dover Publications. New York. · 1971 · ISBN 0-486-22717-0 ↩︎A nice and comprehensive flora, though a bit dated. Good line drawings of each plant, plus a brief idea of the habitat and a few notes on plant uses. Not for the casual reader.
  7. [7]Native American Ethnobotany — Moerman. D. · Timber Press. Oregon. · 1998 · ISBN 0-88192-453-9 ↩︎Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.