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Big and little bluestem grasses are both beautiful and beneficial. Once relegated to roles like erosion control and cattle feed, they now enhance even the most high-end landscape designs with vertical structure and intense seasonal color. These ground-breaking, ecologically valuable grasses come to us from breeder Brent Horvath of Intrinsic Perennials. Schizachyrium s. 'Little Red Fox' PP36738 Fine-textured blue-green foliage in spring with vibrant red highlights beginning m

For centuries, if not millennia, Andropogon gerardii, dominated America’s tallgrass prairies. It’s largely been replaced there by other grasses like Zeamays and Triticumaestivum, a.k.a. corn and wheat.But “big bluestem” is adaptable. It found new homes. Tough and self-reliant, Andropogon became a go-to plant for reclaiming damaged soils. And thanks to modern breeding, it’s increasingly welcome as an ornamental, especially in gardens dedicated to indigenous plants. Here are some of our faves.&nb

Andropogon gerardii, the North American native grass known as “big bluestem” is about as tough a plant as you can grow. But there’s a lot more to its story.For centuries, this genus dominated the tallgrass prairie. It’s been largely replaced there by other grasses like Zeamays and Triticumaestivum, a.k.a. corn and wheat.Andropogon has found new homes. A go-to plant for reclaiming damaged soils, it helps keep out exotic invasives. But thanks to modern breeding and selection, it’s increasingly wel