Big Bluestem

Andropogon gerardi

Pollinator Value

❄️ Winter Food Source: Seeds consumed by Brown-headed Cowbird (11% occurrence), LeConte's Sparrow (23.6% by volume), Red-winged Blackbird (2% occurrence), and Wild Turkey (6% occurrence). Standing dead stems also provide critical winter cover for grassland songbirds including Grasshopper Sparrow and Henslow's Sparrow.
S57 4 bird species; S4 cover for 24+ songbird species

Proximity Score: 0
Native Status: ✅ Outaouais ❌ Ottawa ✅ QC ✅ ON
Closest Direction: Local
CEC Eco-Regions: 5 – Northern Forests, 5.2 – Mixed Wood Shield, 5.2.3 – Algonquin/Southern Laurentians
Rarity Notes: Ranked S3 (Vulnerable) in Quebec where it is at the northeastern edge of its range, confined to specialized habitats along rivers and on calcareous outcrops. S4 (Apparently Secure) in Ontario. Globally secure (G5). Not listed under SARA. National rank N5 in both Canada and the United States.
S22 ranks; S26 not SARA listed
Rarity Ranks: QC S3 – Vulnerable, ON S4 – Apparently Secure
Migration: Stable
Ecological Context: Warm-season tallgrass prairie dominant found in low meadows, prairies, and open ground. In Quebec, restricted to river shorelines, calcareous outcrops, and sandy lakeshores as documented by Gatineau-area specimens at Lac Deschenes and Plaisance. Ranked S3 (Vulnerable) in QC, indicating limited and specialized habitat in the province. Associated with sandy and alluvial substrates in open, fire-maintained communities.
S4 habitat; S7 Michigan habitats; S48 specimen localities; S22 rank

Roles: Fire Retardant, Pollinator Attractor
S73/S29/S72 Evidence: Fire Retardant: S73 [MEDIUM]: S11 Fire Tolerance = High (not definitional)] | Pollinator Attractor: S73 [MEDIUM]: S68 3 bee associations (threshold=3)]
Notes: One of the 'Big Four' tallgrass prairie grasses alongside Indiangrass, Switchgrass, and Little Bluestem. Its deep fibrous roots stabilize soil and improve structure. Tolerates juglone (black walnut). Provides nesting structure for native bees. Best paired with other warm-season grasses and prairie forbs in restoration plantings.
S4 Big Four; S3 juglone tolerant; S29 fibrous roots

Category: Analgesic, Diuretic, Gastrointestinal Aid, Febrifuge, Stimulant
S28 Moerman categories from Chippewa and Omaha uses
Notes: Chippewa used a decoction of the root for stomach pain (analgesic, gastrointestinal aid) and as a diuretic. Omaha used a decoction of the leaf blades as a wash for fevers (febrifuge) and internally for general debility (stimulant). Five medicinal use records from Moerman across two Indigenous nations.
S28 5 medicinal uses; S29 analgesic, carminative, diuretic

❌ Not Edible

Foraging Notes: No edible uses recorded. PFAF rates edibility at 0 of 5. USDA lists Palatable Human as No. Moerman NAEB records 15 ethnobotanical uses but none in the Food category.
S29 edibility=0; S11 Palatable Human=No; S28 no food uses