Black Mountain Bluestem (Andropogon ternarius 'Black Mountain')

Black Mountain Bluestem (Andropogon ternarius 'Black Mountain') is a compact ornamental grass with refined but sturdy blue-green foliage that develops deep red hues later in summer.

Spikelets with silvery white hairs catch the sunlight from late summer into early fall, adding texture to borders and meadow-style plantings.

Growing details

• Plant type: Ornamental grass
• Species origin: Southern, central, and eastern North America, including Georgia
• Mature size: 1.5–3 feet tall and 1–1.5 feet wide
• Spacing: Approximately 1.5 feet apart
• Hardiness: USDA zones 6–9
• Light: Full sun
• Soil: Well-drained soil
• Seasonal display: Silvery-haired spikelets from late summer to early fall
• Foliage: Blue-green, developing deep red summer tones

Care and garden use

Cut clumps to the ground in late winter to early spring before new shoots appear. This grass freely self-seeds in suitable growing conditions, so monitor seedlings where spread is unwanted.

Warning: Highly flammable.

Use as an accent or in mass plantings, borders, naturalized areas, meadows, groundcover plantings, or containers. Pair with milkweed, tickseed, or black-eyed Susan for contrasting flowers and foliage.

Image credits: Tom Potterfield, Andropogon ternarius (splitbeard bluestem), photos 11013437055 and 11013533673; the latter is also credited for the third image. Plants naturally vary in appearance and may differ from the images shown.