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Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Andropogon hallii

Andropogon hallii Hack.

Sand Bluestem

Poaceae (Grass Family)

Synonym(s): Andropogon gerardii var. incanescens, Andropogon gerardii var. paucipilus, Andropogon hallii var. incanescens, Andropogon paucipilus

USDA Symbol: ANHA

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

Sand bluestem is a 3-6 ft., perennial grass that resembles big bluestem but is more rhizomatous. Blue-green stems support a three-parted seedhead.

 

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Grass/Grass-like
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Venation: Parallel
Fruit Type: Caryopsis
Size Notes: Up to about 6 feet tall.
Leaf: Green

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow , Green , Brown
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep

Distribution

USA: AZ , CO , IA , IL , IN , KS , MN , MT , ND , NE , NM , OK , SD , TX , UT , WY
Canada: MB
Native Distribution: ND & e. MT, s. to TX & AZ
Native Habitat: Sandy hills & plains

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun
CaCO3 Tolerance: High
Soil Description: Sand.
Conditions Comments: Sand bluestem is useful for controlling erosion of sand dunes and blow out areas.

Value to Beneficial Insects

Provides Nesting Materials/Structure for Native Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Propagation

Description: Sow seed.
Seed Treatment: A period of cold-moist stratification enhances germination.
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Austin, TX
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Andropogon hallii in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Andropogon hallii in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Andropogon hallii

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-11-18
Research By: TWC Staff

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