Andropogon gerardii ‘Red October’
Overview
Uses: Back of the border, prairie and native plantings, mass plantings, slopes, and specimen use.
Benefits: A standout native prairie grass selected for foliage that turns vivid red to burgundy in late summer and fall. Tall, upright clumps stand through winter, feed birds with their seed heads, and handle heat, drought, and poor soil.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4–9
Sun: Full Sun
Life Cycle: Hardy Perennial
Growth Habit: Upright, Clumping — tall, sturdy stems.
Bloom Color: Reddish-Bronze seed heads
Foliage Color: Green with red tips, turning deep Red to Burgundy in fall
Mature Height: 5–6 feet
Mature Width: 2–3 feet
Bloom Season: Late summer into fall
Growth Rate: Moderate
Summary
A native prairie grass that saves its best color for fall.
Big bluestem was once the dominant grass of the tallgrass prairie that covered the middle of North America, and it is still one of the most striking native grasses you can grow. Red October was selected for color. Its blades emerge green with red tips in summer, then deepen to vivid red and burgundy from late summer through fall.
The plant forms an upright clump about five to six feet tall and only two to three feet wide. In late summer, tall stems carry the three-branched seed heads that give the species its old name, turkeyfoot. Those heads ripen to a reddish bronze and, with the stems, stand through winter, adding height and movement to a dormant garden and seed for songbirds.
Use it at the back of a sunny border, as a tall accent among coneflowers and asters, or in drifts on a slope or in a prairie or meadow planting. Once its deep roots are established it handles heat, drought, and poor soil, and deer generally leave it alone.
Care
Red October Big Bluestem Care
Plant in full sun. Strong light gives the deepest red color and keeps the stems upright; in shade the clump grows open and tends to lean.
Big bluestem grows in a wide range of soils, from sandy to clay, as long as water does not stand around the crown. Average or lean soil is better than rich ground, which produces tall, soft growth that can flop.
Water deeply once a week through the first growing season while roots establish. After that, its deep root system carries it through dry spells, and it rarely needs extra water.
Fertilizer is usually unnecessary and can make the clump floppy. In very poor soil, a light application of a slow release fertilizer in late spring is enough.
Leave the foliage and seed heads standing through winter. In late winter or early spring, before new growth appears, cut the clump back to about four to six inches. If the center thins out after several years, divide the clump in spring and replant the outer sections.
Size
What Size is the Red October Big Bluestem for Sale Online?
Our Red October Big Bluestem ships in a greenhouse-grade grow pot and is appropriately sized for its container at the time of shipment. Plants ship dormant or cut back in the off-season, so they may arrive without green foliage. If you have specific sizing or planting questions, please contact us.
How Large Does Red October Big Bluestem Grow?
Expect about 5 to 6 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide at maturity, in an upright, clumping form. Space plants about 2 to 3 feet apart for a mass planting or a tall screen of grass.
Additional Information
What are some common names for this plant?
It is most often called big bluestem, and is also known as turkeyfoot for the shape of its seed heads.
Is Red October Big Bluestem a native plant?
It is a selection of Andropogon gerardii, which is native across most of central and eastern North America. Selections like this one are often called nativars: they keep the deep roots and wildlife value of the native species while adding ornamental traits such as stronger red color. Browse more Native Plants of North America.
Why is it so slow to come up in spring?
Big bluestem is a warm-season grass. It stays dormant until the soil warms, usually in late spring, then grows quickly through summer heat. Bare-looking crowns in April and early May are normal. For more grasses, see our Ornamental Grasses.
Do deer eat big bluestem?
Deer generally leave big bluestem alone, especially once the blades mature and toughen in summer. No plant is completely deer-proof, but it is a dependable choice for open, sunny sites with deer pressure. See more Deer-Resistant Perennials and Grasses.
