Silver Bluestem

Scientific Name: Bothriochloa saccharoides (Sw.) Rydb.


Classification: Plantae/ Tracheobionta / Spermatophyta / Magnoliophyta / Liliopsida / Commelinidae / Cyperales / Poaceae / Gramineae / Bothriochloa Kuntze/ Bothriochloa saccharoides (Sw.) Rydb.

Silver Bluestem
General Information
Usda SymbolBOSA
GroupMonocot
Life CyclePerennial
Growth HabitsGraminoid
Native LocationsBOSA

Plant Guide

Use soil moisture sensors to measure the soil moisture of Silver Bluestem.

Fact Sheet

Alternate Name

Andropogon saccharoides

Uses

Silver bluestem is used primarily for grazing. Cattle graze it a few weeks in the spring, but little after the seedheads form. It can be grazed some during the winter if livestock are fed a protein supplement. Goats relish the seedheads when seed is in the dough stage. This grass is usually not seeded nor managed to control erosion on critical areas, but established itself readily on denuded soils and overgrazed ranges.

Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status, such as, state noxious status and wetland indicator values.

Description

Grass Family (Poaceae). Silver bluestem is a native, warm-season, short-lived perennial bunch grass. The height is between 2 to 3 feet. The leaf blade is 2 to 8 inches long. The stems are round at the base, but sometimes branching at nodes. The lower part is purplish throughout the growing season and usually has a ring of white hairs at the nodes. Stems turn irregularly at each node. The seedhead is a raceme that is silky white soon after it emerges from the sheath. Distribution: For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

Management

It is cut for hay only when associated with other grasses, such as little (Schizachyrium scoparium) and big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), This grass increases on ranges that are grazed continuously, It is an invader on ranges in poor condition, Use soil moisture sensors to measure the soil moisture of Silver Bluestem., Range managed to maintain this grass in the plant community should be grazed no more than 50 percent of the current year's growth and grazing should be deferred 45 to 60 days in the spring every 2 to 3 years,

Establishment

Growth starts in the spring when daily temperature is 70 to 75 degrees F. The seedheads emerge 3 to 4 weeks later with the seeds ripening during a 4- to 6-week period. Silver bluestem is a prolific seed producer. It grows best on loamy soils underlain by limestone. It grows well on clays and clay loams throughout the blackland resource areas of the South. Further west, it grows on rocky slopes and coarser textured soils. It does not grow well on moist sites. Cultivars, Improved and Selected Materials (and area of origin) Please contact your local NRCS Field Office.

Plant Traits

Growth Requirements

Temperature, Minimum (°F)-23
Adapted to Coarse Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Fine Textured SoilsNo
Adapted to Medium Textured SoilsYes
Anaerobic ToleranceNone
CaCO3 ToleranceMedium
Cold Stratification RequiredNo
Drought ToleranceHigh
Fertility RequirementLow
Fire ToleranceHigh
Frost Free Days, Minimum140
Hedge ToleranceNone
Moisture UseMedium
pH, Maximum7.2
pH, Minimum6.5
Precipitation, Maximum48
Precipitation, Minimum10
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)12
Salinity ToleranceLow
Shade ToleranceIntolerant


Morphology/Physiology

After Harvest Regrowth RateModerate
ToxicityNone
Resprout AbilityNo
Shape and OrientationSemi-Erect
Active Growth PeriodSummer
BloatNone
Coppice PotentialNo
Fall ConspicuousYes
Fire ResistantYes
Flower ConspicuousNo
Foliage ColorGreen
Foliage Porosity SummerPorous
Foliage Porosity WinterPorous
Foliage TextureFine
Fruit/Seed ConspicuousNo
Growth FormBunch
Growth RateModerate
Height, Mature (feet)2.0
Known AllelopathNo
Leaf RetentionNo
LifespanShort
Low Growing GrassYes
Nitrogen FixationNone
Fruit/Seed ColorBrown


Reproduction

Propagated by SeedYes
Propagated by SodNo
Propagated by SprigsNo
Propagated by TubersNo
Fruit/Seed PersistenceNo
Seed per Pound80000
Seed Spread RateModerate
Seedling VigorMedium
Small GrainNo
Vegetative Spread RateModerate
Propagated by CormNo
Propagated by ContainerNo
Propagated by BulbNo
Propagated by Bare RootNo
Fruit/Seed Period EndFall
Fruit/Seed Period BeginSummer
Fruit/Seed AbundanceMedium
Commercial AvailabilityContracting Only
Bloom PeriodSummer
Propagated by CuttingsNo


Suitability/Use

Veneer ProductNo
Pulpwood ProductNo
Protein PotentialLow
Post ProductNo
Palatable HumanNo
Palatable Graze AnimalLow
Palatable Browse AnimalLow
Nursery Stock ProductNo
Naval Store ProductNo
Lumber ProductNo
Fodder ProductYes
Christmas Tree ProductNo
Berry/Nut/Seed ProductNo

Silver Bluestem

Silver Bluestem

Silver Bluestem

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