sand bluestem

Sand bluestem, scientifically known as Andropogon hallii or A. gerardii var. paucipilus, is a tall, rhizomatous North American grass. It is a dominant species in the original tallgrass prairies and is recognized for its value as a forage plant and a soil binder.1

Bluestems, belonging to the genus Andropogon, are a group of approximately 100 grass species found in temperate and tropical regions. These grasses can be annual or perennial and are often coarse with flat or folded leaf blades and solid or pithy stems. Some species, like sand bluestem, spread vegetatively via underground stems called rhizomes. Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) is a characteristic plant of the North American tallgrass prairie, while sand bluestem (A. gerardii, subspecies hallii) specifically grows on sand hills in the central and western United States.2