Blackhawks Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii 'Blackhawks')
an-dro-PO-gon jer-AR-dee-eye 'Blackhawks'
Deciduous Perennial Upright, Columnar in the Poaceae Family
Buy Blackhawks Big Bluestem
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2026 Perennial Plant of the Year: near-black summer foliage and a strong upright habit on a compact big bluestem bred from 'Red October'.
2026 Perennial Plant Association Plant of the Year winner: Andropogon gerardii 'Blackhawks' is a striking cultivar of native big bluestem, bred by Brent Horvath of Intrinsic Perennial Gardens (Hebron, IL) as a 2012 seedling of his own 'Red October'. This selection features dramatic near-black foliage that emerges in spring, creating a bold, textural presence in the landscape. As the growing season progresses, the blades transition to deep burgundy-purple, complemented by pink-tinged flower spikes that rise above the clump in late summer. In autumn, the foliage takes on even more vibrant hues, ranging from deep maroon to burgundy and wine-red. Reaching about 5 feet tall and 2 feet wide, 'Blackhawks' has a strong, upright, columnar habit that resists flopping, and was recognized by the PPA for its colorful foliage, vertical habit, and excellent drought tolerance.
Pros
2026 Perennial Plant Association Plant of the Year
Dramatic near-black to deep-purple foliage holds color through fall
Strong upright, columnar habit resists flopping
Excellent drought tolerance once established
Cons
Needs full sun for best foliage color development
Can self-seed like the species
Slow to reach full color impact in its first year
Plant Data
Mature Size
4 - 6 feet
tall. 24 - 36 inches
wide.
Sun Exposure
Full Sun - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance
Dry - Medium
Zones
3a - 9b
(Usually hardy to -40° F)
Tags
Colorful Foliage, Deciduous, Drought Tolerant, Dry, Fall Color, Full Sun, Grasses, Medium, Most Popular, Nativar, Perennial, Perennial Plant of the Year
We try very hard to source exactly what you’d like, but sometimes growers run out of plants! While this variety is a great deal at the price shown, we know that it has limited availability. If you want the plant even if it might be more expensive, or in a different size or quantity -- after you place your order, just send us a quick note at help@northshoreplantclub.com. Then, we’ll try to get you some version of this from one of our growers. And if we can’t get it from anywhere, of course, we’ll send a refund!
Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants
Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.
Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.
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The cost of this recipe's ingredients will vary depending on the season and the sizes and varieties you select.
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To secure the best prices for club members and make sure we know the current plants available from each nursery, we take orders only a couple of times a month.
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We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region.
It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.
Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!