General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Grass/Grass-like
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Water Preferences: Mesic
Dry Mesic
Dry
Soil pH Preferences: Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5)
Neutral (6.6 – 7.3)
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 5a -28.9 °C (-20 °F) to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
Plant Height: 2 to 5 feet
Plant Spread: 2 to 3 feet
Leaves: Good fall color
Unusual foliage color
Other: Aggressive when established
Fruit: Other: stalked seed clusters
Fruiting Time: Late summer or early fall
Fall
Late fall or early winter
Winter
Flower Time: Late summer or early fall
Underground structures: Rhizome
Uses: Provides winter interest
Erosion control
Will Naturalize
Wildlife Attractant: Birds
Butterflies
Resistances: Deer Resistant
Rabbit Resistant
Flood Resistant
Drought tolerant
Salt tolerant
Propagation: Seeds: Sow in situ
Can handle transplanting
Propagation: Other methods: Division
Pollinators: Wind
Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
Miscellaneous: Tolerates poor soil
Monoecious
Conservation status: Least Concern (LC)

Conservation status:
Conservation status: Least Concern
Image
Common names
  • Virginia Broomsedge
  • Broomsedge
  • Yellow Bluestem
  • Whiskey Grass
  • Bluestem Grass
  • Broomsedge Bluestem
  • Broom-Sedge

Photo Gallery
Location: Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve at the Boyd tract Southern Pines, NC.
Date: September 23, 2022
Virginia Broomsedge  #87; RAB p. 164, 29-87-7; LHB page 156,  syn
Location: Aberdeen, NC
Date: January 6, 2022
 Virginia Broomsedge  #87; RAB p. 164, 29-87-7; LHB page 156,  sy
Location: Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve at the Boyd tract Southern Pines, NC.
Date: September 23, 2022
Virginia Broomsedge  #87; RAB p. 164, 29-87-7; LHB page 156,  syn

Date: 2016-08-24
Photo courtesy of Santa Rosa Gardens. Used with permission.
Location: Chester County, Pennsylvania
Date: 2013-12-24
wild plants in a field in winter
Location: Downingtown, Pennsylvania
Date: 2013-01-03
wild plants in a field
Location: French Creek State Park in southeast PA
Date: 2013-07-05
plants green in a field in summer

Photo Courtesy of Lazy S'S Farm Nursery.
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: Downingtown, Pennsylvania
Date: 2013-01-03
tops of plants with grass seedheads
Location: Aberdeen, NC
Date: January 6, 2022
Broom straw #87 ; RAB p. 164, 29-87-7; AG page 637-p, 129-14-6, "

photo credit: Harry Rose
Comments:
  • Posted by ILPARW (southeast Pennsylvania - Zone 6b) on Dec 26, 2019 12:03 PM concerning plant:
    This is a common wild grass species in the Mid-Atlantic. Its native range is from southern New England & southern New York through southeast Ontario through lower Michigan to northeast Illinois and southern Iowa to southern Texas over down through all of Florida. It is sold by some native plant nurseries as North Creek in southeast PA and New Moon in New Jersey. I call it the Common or Virginia Broomsedge because I don't like to call any kind of plant species just by one word. It is a soil stabilizing pioneer species in meadows and fields. It develops a good reddish-tan fall color that becomes more straw-coloured in winter. I have seen this species turning away from being green to a tan color even in late summer. This species has two or more stalked seed clusters per stem branch. The similar species of Little Bluestem has just one stalked seed cluster per stem. I think it makes a nice perennial, though I like Little Bluestem better. Unfortunately, it has become an invasive species in California, Hawaii, Japan, and Australia.
  • Posted by farmerdill (Augusta Georgia - Zone 8a) on Dec 26, 2019 3:24 PM concerning plant:
    This weed grass is a real pain. It takes over any untended field. Useless for grazing as cattle will not eat it even the green stage. When dry any spark will set it off and it burns like gasoline was poured on it. I have fought enough brush fires involving this plant. It prefers an acidic soil and is a good indicator for that purpose. When it shows up in a pasture it is time for an application of lime.
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