Upright clump of big bluestem grass with blades turning deep red and wine

Big Bluestem 'Red October'

3 Gallon
$61.99
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Upright clump of big bluestem grass with blades turning deep red and wine
  • Upright clump of big bluestem grass with blades turning deep red and wine
  • Upright clump of big bluestem grass with blades turning deep red and wine
Big Bluestem 'Red October'
Grass · Zones 4–9
Andropogon gerardii 'Red October'

Big Bluestem 'Red October'

$61.99
Size3 Gallon
The short version

A grass for full sun.

Native variety. Bees can get in.

Zones 4–9Full sunLow waterNot pet-safe
Stock
In stockTracking the day it leaves
Promise
Arrives aliveOr we replace it. How
From Natorp's, Mason, Ohio Meet them
Spacing and size

2–3 ft apart.

Full growing guide
The story

A prairie grass, in red.

Upright blades come up green tipped in red, darken through summer, then go deep scarlet by October. Late summer brings the three-pronged turkey-foot seed heads big bluestem is known for.

Light

Full sun. Shade makes it floppy and dulls the red.

Water

Water weekly the first summer. Once established it handles drought with deep roots.

Planting

Plant in spring or early summer, once the soil warms, crown level with the soil.

A native prairie grass with real structure and a fall color that goes properly red.

The facts
Size4–6 ft tall, 2–3 ft wideShowLate summer seed heads; red fall colorLightFull sunZones4–9WaterLow, let it dryGood forNative variety, Deer-resistant, DroughtPetsNot pet-safe; keep out of reach
Who it feeds
  • Caterpillars About 14 kinds of native butterflies and moths raise their caterpillars on Andropogon, going by the median county in a nationwide study. Caterpillars are what songbirds feed their chicks. Source
Full growing guide: feeding, pruning, the year, troubleshooting →
Plays well with

Complete the planting.

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