broomsedge Interesting Notes

Perennial, warm, native, poor grazing for wildlife and livestock. 2-4' tall bunchgrass growing in small tufts. The overlapping flattened sheaths are hairy along the margin of upper blade surface toward the base. The upper two-thirds of the plant is freely branching with the leaves turning straw yellow when mature. The seed heads are partly enclosed in a sheath (spathe). Mostly upland, woodland and invades overgrazed ranges. Seldom grazed by any kind of animal. - Texas A&M

Broom sedge is a beautiful warm-season native grass worthy of greater garden use. Its upright stature and warm reddish-tan fall and winter color make for a wonderful contrast in the garden. Warm-season native grasses begin growing well into spring. It reaches 3-5’ tall. Broom sedge forms distinctive clumps and is adaptable to many soils. It prefers full sun but is more adaptable to partial shade than many warm-season native grasses. It grows well with other native grasses like Schizachyrium scoparium, Sporobolus heterolepis, and Muhlenberia capillaris, as well as many perennials such as Asclepias tuberosa, Rudbeckia fulgida, Helianthus angustifolius, and Vernonia glauca. - Mt. Cuba Center

Andropogon virginicus Growing and Maintenance Tips

Found in open fields and upper shores of ponds all over North America and prefers full sun to bright shade, in dry, sandy soils. Propagate by seed or divide clumps every few years. Cut stems down to the ground in late winter (February or March) before new growth occurs.