Red October Big Bluestem
Andropogon gerardii 'Red October'
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry™ Protected
Your order is protected by our compliance system that:
- Prevents restricted plants from shipping to your state
- Ensures plants meet your state's agricultural requirements
- Protects gardens from invasive pests and diseases
Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Fast, Safe Plant Delivery
Ships in 3-4 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected
| Under $50 | $9.99 |
| $50 - $99.99 | $14.99 |
| $100 - $149.99 | $16.99 |
| $150 - $198.99 | $24.99 |
| $199+ | FREE |
✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee
Understanding Plant Options
Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:
- Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
- Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements
Container Plant Sizes
Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.
Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2" x 2" x 3" | 0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts | 0.20 - 0.23 dry liters |
| 4" Container | 0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts | 0.35 - 0.96 dry liters |
| 4.5" Container | 0.65 dry quarts | 0.72 dry liters |
| 6" Container | 1.4 dry quarts | 1.59 dry liters |
| 1 Quart | 1 dry quart | 1.1 dry liters |
| 5.5" Container | 1.89 dry quarts | 2.08 dry liters |
Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Quart | 2 dry quarts | 2.2 dry liters |
| #1 Container | 2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts | 2.49 - 4.11 dry liters |
| 5" x 5" x 12" | 3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts | 3.85 - 4.74 dry liters |
Mature Plants (2-4 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #2 Container | 1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons | 5.24 - 7.75 dry liters |
| #3 Container | 2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons | 8.14 - 12.16 dry liters |
Large Plants (3-5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #5 Container | 2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons | 12.86 - 20.35 dry liters |
| #6 Container | 5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons | 23.12 - 26.42 dry liters |
| #7 Container | 5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons | 26.34 - 28.76 dry liters |
Bare Root Plants
Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.
Common Sizes:
- Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
- Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet
Important Notes
Container Volume Specifications
- Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
- Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
- Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents
Growing Conditions
- Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
- Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
- Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment
Seasonal Availability
- Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
- Container plants are available throughout the growing season
- Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes
Questions?
For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.
Plant Sentry™ Protected
Your order is protected by our compliance system that:
- Prevents restricted plants from shipping to your state
- Ensures plants meet your state's agricultural requirements
- Protects gardens from invasive pests and diseases
Plant Profile & Growing Essentials
Cold hardy, Native, Fall Color/Interest, Low Maintenance, Deer-resistant, Slopes/Erosion Control, Heat Tolerant, and Drought resistant
Specifications
Specifications
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Botanical Name
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Height
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Width
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Growing Zones
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Sunlight
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Growth RateModerate
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Flower Color
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Leaf Color
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Fall Color
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NativeYes
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Pollinator Required
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Bloom PeriodEarly Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Late Fall
Planting & Care Instructions
Planting & Care Instructions
Growing Zones 4-9
Before the tall-grass prairies of the North American plains became a casualty of progress, Big Bluestem grass dominated from the Rocky Mountains to the forests in the East. It formed acres of rolling waves of amber. Many reports say that it grew so tall it could hide a man on horseback.
Thankfully, some great horticulturists have tamed some of these native grasses for us to use in our own home landscapes. Introducing the Red October Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii 'Red October'), which has proven to be one of the best. This year-round showstopper emerges blue-gray in the spring. As it grows taller through the summer, it changes to the deep blue-green that it's named for. Late summer brings burgundy-red wheat-like flower heads, floating over foliage that has turned a purple-red hue for winter interest.
Then, when the first frost of fall hits, the color ratchets up a notch to the vivid scarlet red that gives this big grass its name. Growing 4-8 feet in height when in bloom and spreading just 2-3 feet wide, these are fantastic selections to grow anywhere that is hot, dry, and needs a plant that needs little maintenance throughout USDA hardiness zones 4 to 9!
Planting and Application:
Give this hardy grass room to grow, as it gets tall! Not enough to hide a man on horseback, but enough to hide your other shrubs, so plant Red October in the back of the border or as a specimen in big beds. It also looks great mimicking a prairie in big drifts along the edge of your property. Its height lends itself well to screening out that nosy neighbor or hiding an eyesore anywhere in the sun garden!
Wildlife loves this Ornamental Grass, too! It provides cover for at least 20 different species of songbirds! Create dramatic garden height and columnar focal points around the landscape as anchors, garden beds, and border punctuation, or add height and waving, rustling sound and texture to Rock Gardens, hard-to-mow slopes, or that hell-strip along the sidewalk and driveway.
- Big Blue-Gray Columnar Blades Turn Blue-Green All Summer
- Tall Burgundy Red Wheat-Like Plumes
- Cover & Food For Wildlife & Birds
- Dried Seed Heads are Great for Floral Arrangements
- Year-Round Beauty & Vivid Fall Color
- Screening, Garden Height & Drama, Backdrops & En Masse
#ProPlantTips for Care:
Being a native cultivar, Red October can handle just about any garden situation but loves full sun and dry, sandy or clay soils. Having moderate moisture requirements while newly planted, provide regular moisture until established, but after that, these warm-season grasses are drought-tolerant! Low-maintenance, Red October needs pruning in early spring to a few inches above the ground and division every 3-5 years to keep them neat, tidy, and growing vigorously.
- Full Sun Ornamental Grass
- Moderate to Low Moisture Needs
- Adaptive to a Variety of Soils
- Easy Care & Low Maintenance
- Deer Resistant & Tolerant of Black Walnut Juglone
Bring some classic American beauty and wilderness to your home landscape this year! Order Red October Big Bluestem Grass from NatureHills.com today!
