Purple bluestem
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Andropogon glomeratus var. glaucopsis
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Poaceae
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Landscape Uses:
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Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. |
Ecological Restoration Notes: |
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Availability: |
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Grown by enthusiasts and occasionally by native plant nurseries. |
Description: |
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Medium to large herbaceous grass. |
Height: |
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Typically 2-4 feet in height; to 6 feet when in flower. About as broad as tall except when flowering. |
Growth Rate: |
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Fast. |
Range: |
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Southeastern United States south to Palm Beach and Lee counties. |
Habitats: |
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Wet to dry pinelands, scrub, coastal strand and disturbed sites. |
Soils: |
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Moist to wet, well-drained to moderately well-drained sandy soils, without humus. |
Nutritional Requirements: |
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Low; it grows in nutrient poor soils. |
Salt Water Tolerance: |
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Low; does not tolerate flooding by salt or brackish water. |
Salt Wind Tolerance: |
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Low; salt wind may burn the leaves. |
Drought Tolerance: |
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High; does not require any supplemental water once established. |
Light Requirements: |
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Full sun. |
Flower Color: |
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Light brown inflorescence. |
Flower Characteristics: |
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Semi-showy inflorescence. |
Flowering Season: |
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Summer-fall. |
Fruit: |
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Inconspicuous caryopsis. |
Wildlife and Ecology: |
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Possible larval host plant for Delaware skipper (Anatrytone logan), Georgia satyr (Neonympha areolata), neamathla skipper (Nastra neamathla), swarthy skipper (Nastra lherminier) and twin-spot skipper (Oligoria maculata) butterflies. |
Horticultural Notes: |
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Can be grown from seed. |
Comments: |
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