Andropogon virginicus (Broomsedge) Unity Grown

Andropogon virginicus, commonly known as broomsedge, is an upright perennial grass native to much of the eastern United States. Known for its resilience in varied soil conditions, tolerating both drought and seasonal flooding, broomsedge typically reaches 2-4' tall at maturity, with a spread of about 2-3' wide and is exceptionally low maintenance. Requiring only full to partial sun, and fairly little else in terms of water and soil nutrients, Andropogon virginicus is more tolerant of drought and flooding than big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), a close relative. Broomsedge produces unremarkable, fine yellow-green flowers in the summer months, but acts as a host plant for larval butterflies and moths, and flowers turn to seed heads in the fall, feeding birds. In addition, broomsedge displays striking flaxen-yellow and bronze hues in the autumn months, retaining its color and upright structure well into the winter, which only adds to its multi-season interest.

As with most native grasses, growth is slow and plants may require two to three years to fully establish, but once established, Broomsedge can really take off. Care should be taken with choosing a planting location for broomsedge, as its remarkable hardiness combined with its spreading behavior can cause it to take over fallow agricultural fields and other relatively empty sites, but this habit also makes Andropogon virginicus an excellent choice for native prairie rehabilitation and other naturalization projects.

Our Andropogon virginicus plugs are grown from seed here at Unity Church Hill Nursery.