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Silver Beardgrass (Andropogon saccharoides var. torreyanus): Silvery Plumes in Fall

Overview

Silver Beardgrass (also Silver Bluestem) is a warm-season, perennial bunchgrass native to the southern US and Mexico. It forms clumps of blue-green leaves and produces showy, silvery-white, fluffy seed heads in late summer to fall that catch the light beautifully. Grows 3-5 feet tall.

Taxonomy & Nomenclature

Family:	Poaceae (poh-AY-see-ee)
Genus:	Andropogon (an-dro-POH-gon)
Species:	saccharoides var. torreyanus

Synonyms: Bothriochloa saccharoides var. torreyana, Bothriochloa laguroides subsp. torreyana.

Cultivation & Uses

Full sun; well-drained soil. Drought-tolerant. Good for erosion control, native meadows, and ornamental use for the silvery plumes. Provides seeds for birds. Cut back in late winter. Can self-sow.

Grasses and Bamboo: Pampas Grass (Cortaderia selloana); Giant Chinese Silver Grass (Miscanthus giganteus); Silver Banner Grass (Miscanthus sacchariflorus); Palm Grass (Setaria palmifolia); Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans); Broomsedge Bluestem (Andropogon virginicus); Little Bluestem 'The Blues' (Schizachyrium scoparium): Intense Blue Foliage & Fall Color; Silver Beardgrass (Andropogon saccharoides var. torreyanus): Silvery Plumes in Fall; Big Bluestem 'Silver Sunrise' (Andropogon gerardii 'Silver Sunrise'); Shoestring Fern (Vittaria lineata)

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