Black Mountain Bluestem Grass

Light Needs

Partial Sun to Full Sun

(At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

1-2 Feet

Mature Spread

2-3 Feet

Growing Zones

6 to 9

Ornamental Grasses are very tough, durable plants that carry a lot of weight in gardens that have poor dry soils. Black Mountain is a sport of Little Bluestem that will not disappoint. It will tolerate some of the worst growing conditions while also giving you a great variety of colors throughout the summer. New growth is a silvery blue with a pink tinge. The flowerheads late in the summer are a bright silver and the blades of this grass turn a deep maroon purple late in the fall.

Black Mountain BlueStem has a compact growth habit that makes it useful at the front of an ornamental grass bed or in a container for a more modern garden feel. Smaller gardens can include this grass and have four seasons of interest in one plant. Deer do not browse on ornamental grasses and there are few diseases that are a problem. 

Black Mountain BlueStem Care

Ornamental Grasses perform best in full sun. They also like a constantly moist soil that is well drained. Excellent drainage throughout the winter is very important to protect against root rot. As a rule, Ornamental Grasses  grow bigger the more you water them. They also are extremely drought tolerant if they have established well. Extra irrigation is not normally needed after the first couple of years. Soil pH and texture is not much of an issue. Fertilizing is rarely needed.

Cutting back Black Mountain is only done once a year. Early in the spring when the new growth is starting is a good time to take the whale plant back to 6 inches above the soil. The new vigorous growth will appear very quickly after. Leaving the seed heads and stems alone during the winter will provide food and cover for wildlife in your garden, while creating interesting structure when other perennials are hibernating.

Black Mountain BlueStem Spacing

Black Mountain BlueStem has a mature height and width of 24-36 inches. It should be planted at 30 inches, center on center, to provide for good air circulation. Planting this grass in a container will require a pot of at least 24 inches in diameter.

SKU:

1231010771-pc