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| ## caucasian bluestem {#caucasian-bluestem .Title-Header}             |
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| *Bothriochloa bladhii* (Retz.) S.T. Blake                             |
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| Plant Symbol = BOBL                                                   |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS Plant Materials Program
![](media/image2.wmf){width="2.540277777777778in"
height="1.7083333333333333in"}

##### Uses {#uses .Header-3}

Caucasian bluestem is sometimes used as a critical area cover plant due
to its ability to grow on droughty, acid, sterile sites. It should be
used in mixtures with native warm season grasses because it is not a
particularly valuable wildlife plant. This plant is not reliably hardy
north of the PA-NY border. Though used for forage in the southern
Midwest, the quality is not high enough to use it in this way in the
Northeast.

##### Status {#status .Header-3}

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status (e.g. threatened or endangered
species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

##### Description {#description .Header-3}

Caucasian bluestem has dense blue-green leaves and thin stems with
purple tinges at the nodes. It typically grows to 3-4 feet in height.
The seed head is a terminal group of spike-like stalks that come from a
common point. The most memorable characteristic is the sweet,
distinctive odor of the foliage.

##### Adaptation and Distribution {#adaptation-and-distribution .Header-3}

This grass will grow on soils of moderate drainage or better. It will
grow well on acid, droughty, and low fertility soils. The best use for
this grass is on drastically disturbed sites such as strip mine RAMP
sites in PA and South.

For a current distribution map, please consult the Plant Profile page
for this species on the PLANTS Website.

##### Establishment {#establishment .Header-3}

Caucasian bluestem should be seeded as the soil warms in the spring. The
germination is slow compared to cool season grasses and the two types of
grass are almost never planted together. Native grass drills such as the
Truax, Great Plains, or Tye are the best units for planting this seed as
they have positive feed mechanisms for chaffy seed and double disk
furrow openers. If a suitable drill is not available or cannot be used
due to terrain, then broadcasting the seed and tracking it in with a
bulldozer is also an excellent planting method. Hydroseeding without
tracking is simply a waste of time, money, and effort. Mulches are
avoided with warm season grass plantings unless absolutely necessary to
control erosion\--then use 1500 pounds per acre of straw as a maximum
rate. No nitrogen fertilizer should be applied during the seeding year.
Phosphorus and potassium should be at medium levels, and the pH should
be 5.5 or better on forage fields and 5.0 or better on critical areas.

##### Management {#management .Header-3}

Once established, there is little management needed for this species. It
does not respond as strongly to fire as do our native species.

##### Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin) {#cultivars-improved-and-selected-materials-and-area-of-origin .Header-3}

There are several hybrid cultivars from Oklahoma and Texas, but these
are not recommended for used in the Northeast. Caucasian bluestem, sold
under that name, is the best of the non-native bluestems.

##### Prepared By & Species Coordinator:  {#prepared-by-species-coordinator .Header-3}

USDA NRCS Northeast Plant Materials Program

##### 

##### Edited: 01Feb2002 JLK; 31may06jsp {#edited-01feb2002-jlk-31may06jsp .Header-4}

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

*The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in
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orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases
apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication of program information (Braille,
large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA\'s [TARGET
Center](http://www.usda.gov/oo/target.htm) at 202-720-2600 (voice and
TDD).*

*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice or
TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.*

*Read about [Civil Rights at the Natural Resources Convervation
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