Andropogon gerardii 'Blackhawks' PP27949
Big Bluestem
'Blackhawks' Big Bluestem is a beautiful Andropogon selection from Brent Horvath of Intrinsic Perennial Gardens. The 4' stems emerge with green blades in spring and the turkey foot inflorescences appear in August and turn into airy, light catching seedheads for added fall and winter beauty. Andropogon gerardii 'Blackhawks' got its name from its origins in Illinois (Chicago Blackhawks), and it thrives in prairie like conditions.
Andropogon gerardii ‘Blackhawks’ is a dark-leaved selection, as its name suggests, that commits to a seductive, heavily saturated complexion imbued with burgundies, wine reds, lustrous midnight blues, purples, and greens. Atop the medley of colorful blades, maroon inflorescences sprinkled with tiny golden anthers erupt towards the end of midsummer. Despite the limited distribution of Andropogon gerardii along the eastern United States corridor, isolated populations make up swaths of rare Piedmont prairies and it’s been found that pre-Colonial settlement, bluestem had quite a large distribution across much of the Carolinas. Expectedly, modern agricultural practices as well as the inevitable upheaval of natural resources and disruption of natural processes such as periodic burns have assisted the disappearance of bluestems and innumerable other native grass and forb species. Adding bluestem back into the landscape and into our garden spaces helps to ensure the success of future Andropogon gerardii populations while also supporting soil stabilization – this species is fantastic for naturalizing or restoring many different landscapes with many different soil conditions. With Andropogon gerardii ‘Blackhawks’, the ecological benefits are only the tip of the iceberg. The ornamental qualities are not to be undervalued – the sultry purple-black foliage and dark burgundy inflorescences are part of a unique plant palette that is considerably rare on the native plant spectrum.
| Qty | Description | Comments | Future Crop | Future Crop Ready Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 229 | Andropogon gerardii Blackhawks #2 (NATIVE) | 224 | 7/15 | Login for pricing |
