USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 3b-9b   Find Your Zone

Plant Type:  Ornamental Grass

Flower Color:  Tan

Flower Size:  Small in thin vertical seed heads

Flowering Period:  Late Summer through Fall

Bloom Type:  Finger-like flower cluster

Fragrant Flowers: No

Foliage Color:  Blue, Green in Spring - Blue, Green with Red Stems in Summer - Purple, Burgundy with Red, Orange, Pink stems in Fall and Winter

Fragrant Foliage:  No 

Berries:  No

Berry Color:  NA

Attracts:  Visual Attention, Birds

Resistances:  Air Pollution, Black Walnut, Deer, Disease, Drought (when established), Erosion, Heat, Humidity, Insect, Rabbits

Dubbed the "monarch of the prairie," Big Bluestem Grass was once the dominant component of the American tallgrass prairie. 'Holy Smoke' is a unique variety selected for vigor, sturdy stems, and wonderful changing colors throughout the seasons. A clumping to slowly spreading rhizomatous ornamental grass 4 to 6 feet tall and 2 to 2.5 feet wide, Holy Smoke is a wonderful vertical accent or grouping in the landscape providing unique texture and color throughout all the seasons. In spring, the tall and sturdy red colored stems are clothed in arching glaucous bluish-green blades that transition to green with maroon during summer. With the arrival of cooler temperatures in fall the foliage takes on spectacular smoky purple, burgundy, bronze-orange and mulled pink shades against pink stems. Distinctive 3-parted blooms resembling a turkey's foot are a favorite of florists and the birds will enjoy the seeds. It is the butterfly caterpillar host for Dusted Skipper and Delaware Skipper. Being a highly adaptable North American native, Holy Smoke Big Bluestem is drought tolerant and easy-to-grow in most any average to low fertility soil and as much sun as you can provide. We suggest at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day for the deepest foliage color and overall vigor. 

Holy Smoke Big Bluestem Grass is exceptionally easy to grow in most any moist but well drained to dry soil of average to even poor fertility, including clay soils. It prefers full sun so we suggest at least 6 hours or more of direct sunlight per day. A deep tap root gives it high drought tolerance when established. Cut plants back to just above the ground in late winter or early spring before new growth appears.

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