Blackhawks Big Blue Stem is a perennial grass known for its tall, upright habit and its dark purple to nearly black foliage in the fall. In late summer, it produces purplish flower spikes that add to its visual appeal. This plant is quite adaptable and can grow in a variety of conditions, but it prefers full sun and well-drained soil. It's also drought-tolerant, making it a good choice for gardens in drier climates. One of the great things about Blackhawks Big Blue Stem is that it provides excellent winter interest and is a great source of food for birds during the colder months. It's also resistant to deer, making it a good choice for a wildlife-friendly garden. Type: Orn. Grass Origins: North America, GA Native Height: 4' - 5' Spread: 1 - 2' Spacing: 1' USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 - 9 Culture: Full Sun Bloom Color: Purple Season of Interest: Fall , Year-Round MAINTENANCE NEEDS: Low maintenance. Cut stems to the ground in late winter before new shoots appear. LANDSCAPE USES: Accents or Group Plantings, Borders , Woodland Gardens , Wildlife Gardens , Naturalized Areas , Native Gardens , Rock Gardens , and containers. COMPANION PLANTS: Milkweed , Tickseed , Black-Eyed Susan IMAGES: Photo by cultivar413 , Andropogon gerardii 'Blackhawks' , (2) cultivar413 from Fallbrook, California, 190909 066 Chicago Botanic Gdn - Bulb Gdn, Andropogon gerardii 'Blackhawks' Purple-leaf Big Bluestem Grass, Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Pfitzeriana Ozark' Juniper (48861103283) , CC BY 2.0 *As plants have ranges in appearance they may not appear as the images shown.