Blackhawks Big Bluestem

If you are in search of excitement for your landscape, try this incredible selection of native Bluestem grass. With a very useful columnar habit, Blackhawks Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii 'Blackhawks') makes an enormous impact on your landscape.

Enjoy an arching display of bold foliage that fountains up and out from the base. They'll stay within a narrow footprint, but create a lush look.

The narrow blades emerge dark green and deepen to a reddish-purple by mid-summer. For fall color, those blades turn nearly black.

As the growing season progresses, these eye-catching plants also grow tall stems. You'll recognize the dark "turkey foot" branching seed heads formed at the top.

Watch the breeze play through the bold foliage and catch the seed heads in a twirling dance. It's easy to add the elements of movement and sound to your landscape with these incredible plants.

Tallgrass prairies are an important biome that plays a big role in the American garden vernacular. Blackhawks Big Bluestem is evocative of those wide-open, gently rolling areas. Recreate the appeal in your landscape.

Use them as a fantastic vertical accent to punctuate special design elements throughout your yard. Call it the "Prince" of your yard, it certainly deserves it.

Order Blackhawks Big Bluestem from the expert growers at Nature Hills. This desirable variety is in high demand by professional designers across the country. Let it shine for you!

How to Use Blackhawks Big Bluestem in the Landscape

Consider these big grasses an architectural feature in your landscape. Use them to draw attention to entrances, fire pits, seating areas and garden sculpture.

They are very effective on an elevated terrace or berm behind your entertainment area. Stagger the planting line and space them 15 inches apart on center. They'll grow together and touch.

Use a straight row and precise spacing, or curve the line and vary the spacing from 15 to 24 inches apart for a natural look.

Have a flat yard?

Don't be afraid to bring in soil and use a small earth mover to create hills and dells. Place your stamp on your property.

Add thoughtfully placed boulders, and leverage Blackhawks Big Bluestem to easily soften and ground them. All you'll need to do is plant them a bit offset to the base of the rock.

If you can, plant them on the west side of your seating area. You'll gain some welcome shade and enjoy a spectacular display as they truly glow in the setting sun.

Need to keep things easy? No problem! Simply include a series of them repeated along the length of your sunny garden borders or raised planting beds.

Use a single plant by the entrance to your outdoor entertainment area. Add a second one to flank either side of your garden gate.

Nature Hills offers many Prairie plants and several extra-special cultivars of the native species. Use Blackhawks Big Bluestem as an anchor plant in a recreated, small-scale Tallgrass Prairie.

Partner with some of our special Coneflowers, Blanket Flower Gaillardias, and Black-Eyed Susans. Include an evergreen Juniper tree and a rounded Mugo Pine or Bird's Nest Spruce nearby.

Enjoy the process of gardening! How proud you'll be of your space.

#ProPlantTips for Care

These are easy-care plants that will tolerate low water conditions once they are established in your soil. Baby them their first season with a moderate amount of water on a regular basis.

Protect your investment in extended periods of drought. Add supplemental water to keep your plants stress-free.

Full sun is best for these warm-season grasses. Give them all day, blazing sunlight, or at least 6 hours of sunlight a day and have patience while they get growing in the spring, then watch them explode into action for the summer and fall! Grow Big Bluestem in average, well-drained soils.

Once a year in early spring, you'll prune them back to a 4-inch height. Wear gloves to protect your hands, and consider using a garden saw to speed up the process. Grab a large handful of the foliage, and make back-and-forth passes.

Bag or bundle the stalks. Or, cut the smaller pieces and use them as mulch in your Victory Garden.

Go big and bold this season. Blackhawks Big Bluestem makes it easy. Order this dynamic cultivar from NatureHills.com today and reap the rewards of this incredible specimen.