Plant Big Bluestem – Crown at Soil Level in Spring

Plant Big Bluestem – Crown at Soil Level in Spring guide illustration

Plant big bluestem in spring, with the crown at soil level. Space clumps so the mature screen has room.

Planting Big Bluestem care summary diagram

Plant in spring, with the crown at soil level

FactorRecommendedAvoid
WhenSpring, once the soil can be workedDo not plant into midsummer heat with no water
CrownCrown even with the surrounding soilDo not bury the crown
SpacingAbout two to three feet between clumpsA packed row with no room for the mature clump
StartA nursery plug for a garden clumpDo not count on seed for a border this year

This is a warm-season grass, so plant a nursery plug in spring and let it root through summer. Set the crown even with the soil so new blades are not smothered. [1] big bluestem wants that crown set on draining ground. bushy bluestem takes the same crown set on moist ground — confirm the kind on Types of Andropogon. [2]

When do I plant big bluestem?

Plant a plug in spring, once the soil can be worked. Skip midsummer heat unless you can water until it takes.

How to plant big bluestem

Work one nursery plug at a time: open a hole no deeper than the pot, set the crown, then water to settle.

  1. Confirm big bluestem, bushy bluestem, splitbeard, or broomsedge on the tag. If the tag only says bluestem, match it on Types of Andropogon.
  2. Dig a hole as deep as the root ball and a little wider. Soak the pot before you slide the plant out.
  3. Set the crown even with the surrounding soil. Do not bury it.
  4. Leave about two to three feet between clumps. Backfill, firm, and water in once. [3]
  5. Keep weeds off the first summer. Top growth is slow while the roots take, and cool-season grass will crowd it if you let it.

How far apart should I plant big bluestem?

Leave about two to three feet between clumps. Measure to the mature plant, not the pot. Shorter kinds need a little less room.

Split a crowded clump in spring

Dividing a clump uses the same planting steps. Wait until new shoots show. Older crowns are dense, so expect a saw or a sharp spade. [4]

  1. Divide in spring, as new growth shows.
  2. Lift the clump and split a living wedge from the edge so each piece keeps roots and several green shoots. Discard a dead, hollow center.
  3. Replant each piece at the same depth, crown at soil level, and water to settle.

What fails at planting

Burying the crown, or packing clumps tighter than the mature width, is the usual reason a new plant stalls. Keep the crown at soil level. After planting, sun and first-season water are on How to Grow Big Bluestem.

If the crown is buried, lift the plug and reset it at soil level this week.

FAQ

Can I plant big bluestem in fall?

Yes, where you can give it several weeks to root before hard frost. In a cold, wet winter, wait for spring so a new plug is not sitting frozen.

Recommended plants

References

  1. [1] Kansas State University - https://www.k-state.edu/turf/resources/ornamental-grasses/grasses/andropogon-gerardii.html
  2. [2] Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources - https://bwsr.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/2023-10/featured_plant_november_2023_big_bluestem.pdf
  3. [3] NC State Extension Gardener - https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/andropogon-gerardi/
  4. [4] Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ANGE

This note is part of Andropogon Guides.

More planting notes by plant are gathered in Planting Guides.

Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors

This guide is written for real gardens, not perfect climates. Results vary with site, season, and plant choice. We draw on multiple sources and practical experience; treat the steps here as honest guidance, not a promise that every bed will behave the same.