Andropogon ternarius

An outstanding clump-forming native grass and probably my favorite of the Bluestems, this prairie species fits wonderfully in dry, native and meadow gardens. In spring and summer, its narrow fine-textured leaves are bluish-green. When fall arrives, their color transforms into shades of purple, red and bronze. Even more intriguing are its fall seed heads that look like tiny white and fluffy split beards. When backlit by an autumn sun they resemble tiny sparks of light scattered among the stems. These often persist well into the winter.