Big Blue stem is a warm season grass native to prairies. You will find it in fields and ditches throughout the northeast. It is a wonderful addition to any prairie garden. Grass need to be added to prairie gardens to help complete the habitat. Many meadow plants naturally grow with grasses. They help to keep the flowering plants upright when in bloom.

Big blue stem is a warm season grass that grows quite tall, 4 to 6 feet. This will vary depending on where it is planted. The very interesting flower and seed heads resemble a turkey’s foot in shape so another common name is turkey foot. The foliage comes out of the ground gray green matures to blue green and gets reddish tinge with age. It makes an excellent ornamental grass but is a member of the tall grass prairie.Big blue stem is a warm season grass that grows quite tall, 4 to 6 feet. The very interesting flower and seed heads resemble a turkey’s foot in shape so another common name is turkey foot. The foliage comes out of the ground gray green matures to blue green and gets reddish tinge with age. It makes an excellent ornamental grass but is a member of the tall grass prairie.
 
Big bluestem can be used to control erosion because it makes a very effective root system. Mix it with other grasses and forbs. It can be used as an effective screen because of its height. Plant it in a meadow garden or pollinator garden.  You can use it in flower arrangements, the very interesting seed heads adds interest. Birds will use it for nesting material and other animals will use it for cover. It is a host plant for Delaware Skippers and Dusted Skippers. Deer generally do not eat this plant. 
 
Great companions are switch grass, little blue stem, Indian grass, black eyed Susan’s, asters, Beebalm, oxe-eye sunflower, milkweeds and Joe pye weed.