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| ## bushy beardgrass {#bushy-beardgrass .Title-Header}                 |
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| *Andropogon glomeratus* (Walt.) B.S.P.                                |
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| Plant Symbol = ANGL2                                                  |
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*Contributed by: USDA NRCS Louisiana State Office, National Plant Data
Center, & the Grazing Land Conservation Initiative-South Central Region*

## Alternative Names

bushy bluestem, bushy broomsedge, lowland broomsedge, and bushybeard
bluestem. Some botanists consider *Andropogon glomeratus* and
*Andropogon virginicus* as one species. However, the two grasses are
distinct and consistent in appearance and are currently recognized as
separate species.

## Uses

*Livestock:* Although it rates low as a forage grass, bushy beardgrass
can be used as forage during the summer, fall, and winter months;
however, it is more palatable during the early spring. The palatability
is increased after a late winter burning.

*Ornamental Landscaping:* Bushy beardgrass is used as an ornamental
grass in landscapes because of its showy plumes that turn a rust color
during late fall and early winter. It is recommended for golf courses,
around pond edges, stream banks and other wet sites.

*Wildlife*: Bushy beardgrass benefits wildlife. The finch, junco, and
tree sparrow eat the seeds. The white-tailed deer and rabbits browse the
plant. Bushy beardgrass also provides cover for mottled ducks and fawns
(white-tailed deer).

*Conservation Practices*: Bushy beardgrass, because of its growth habit,
potentially has application when established with the following
conservation practices; however, conservation practice standards vary by
state. For localized information, consult your local NRCS Field Office.
NRCS practices include the following: 327-Conservation Cover; 386-Field
Border; 390-Riparian Herbaceous Cover; 393-Filter Strip; 512-Pasture and
Hay Planting; 550-Range Planting; 560-Access Road; 562-Recreation Area
Improvement; 643-Restoration and Management of Declining Habitats;
644-Wetland Wildlife Habitat Management; 647-Early Successional Habitat
Development/Management; 656-Constructed Wetland; 657-Wetland
Restoration; 658-Wetland Creation; 659-Wetland
Enhancement.![](media/image2.jpeg){width="2.3493055555555555in"
height="3.926388888888889in"}

## 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

*General*: Grass Family (Poaceae). It is a persistent, warm-season,
perennial, low growing bunchgrass that is found from late summer to fall
and reaches a height of 6 feet. It can be distinguished from other warm
season grasses by its thick, massive, reddish brown, terminal
inflorescence composed of paired silky racemes and its flattened blue
green foliage. The culms are erect, 50 to 150 cm tall, compressed, with
broad keeled, overlapping lower sheaths and the flat tufts often forming
dense, usually glaucous clumps. The sheaths are occasionally villous;
blades elongate, 3 to 8 mm wide; inflorescence dense and feathery. The
sessile spikelets are 3 to 4 mm long with a straight awn 1 to 1.5 cm
long. The fruit/seed period begins in the fall and ends in the winter.

## Distribution

Bushy beardgrass is found in low roadsides, moist pinelands, brackish
and freshwater marsh borders, sloughs, and wet ditches. It is native to
and is found in nearly all of the eastern United States, mainly in the
southern states, and extending west to California. Bushy beardgrass is
also found in the West Indies, Yucatan, and Central America. For current
distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on
the PLANTS Web site.

## Establishment

*Adaptation*: The USDA Hardiness Zones for bushy beardgrass is 5 to 10.
Bushy beardgrass tolerates hot climates and coastal conditions as long
as constant moisture is present. It is found in irregularly to
seasonally inundated or saturated loamy soil. Bushy beardgrass is not
salt tolerant and generally will not grow at levels above 0.5 parts per
thousand. Bushy beardgrass does not tolerate heavy shade but will grow
under light shade conditions.

Rootstock or seeds propagate bushy beardgrass. However, of the two, the
best propagation method is transplantation of rootstock with liberal
amounts of root-laden soil onto wet mineral soils in late winter or
early spring. The plants should be spaced at 18 inches because the rate
of spread is slow. Spread is generally less than 0.2 feet per year in
unconsolidated sediment.

Seed germination is best when first stored at room temperature for 7-14
months. The planting should be in late winter as a dormant seeding or
when daily temperatures average in the low 60's. For planting, the seed
can be broadcast and culti-packed if the right field conditions exist.
The seeding rate should be 10-12 pure live seed/acre. The seeds should
be planted to a depth of ¼ - ¾ inch. If the right field conditions do
not exist or intensive seedbed preparation is undesirable, then disk the
site and leave the surface as rough as possible. Do not create a smooth
uniform appearance for the seedbed. Broadcast the seed and allow nature
to cover the seeds. When seeding under minimal seedbed preparation,
increase the seeding rate by 50%. It is not recommended to mix bushy
beardgrass seeds with cool season grass seeds. In parts of the United
States where cool season grasses dominate, the warm season grasses can
be taken over because they develop slower than the cool season grasses.
It is also recommended that seed not be moved more than 300 miles north
or 200 miles south of its point of origin.

## Management

Bushy beardgrass does not require fertilizers as the plants can grow in
low fertility areas. Overgrazing bushy beardgrass results in an increase
of this plant. However, if bushy beardgrass becomes weedy, then burning
or mowing is recommended. Check with the local extension service for
herbicides. Bushy beardgrass has no known pests or problems.

## Cultivars, Improved and Selected Materials (and area of origin)

Please check the Vendor Database, expected to be on-line through the
PLANTS Web site in 2001 by clicking on Plant Materials or contact your
local NRCS Field Office. Common seed and container plants are readily
available from a number of growers, wholesalers, and retailers of native
seed.

## References

Hitchcock, A.S. 1950. *Manual of the grasses of the United States*. USDA
Miscellaneous Publication No 200. Agricultural Research Administration,
Washington, D.C. Pp. 765-766.

Texas A&M University 1997. *Grass images: Andropogon glomeratus*.
Version: 000329.
\<http://www.csdl.tamu.edu/FLORA/taesgrass/4371600t.jpg\>.
Bioinformatics Working Group, College Station, Texas.

## Prepared By

# *Selena Dawn Newman*, USDA, NRCS, Louisiana Plant Materials Program

# *Maraya Gates*, USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center

## Species Coordinator

# *Mike Materne*, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Edited 05dec00 jsp; 07feb03ahv; 24mar06jsp

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/)\>

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*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
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