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
Size Notes Price Availability
#1 gallon Field

Show Stoppers (9/23)

$15.92 Likely available
11/1 - 11/8
1/24 - 4/4
#1 gallon Field $16.31 Likely available
11/1 - 11/8
1/24 - 4/4
#3 gallon Field $46.84 Likely available
11/1 - 11/8
1/24 - 4/4
18 Flat Field $128.34 Likely available
11/1 - 11/8
1/24 - 4/4
50 plug flat Field $290.63 Likely available
11/1 - 11/8
1/24 - 4/4
50ct Plug Deep Flat Field $182.13 Likely available
11/1 - 11/8
1/24 - 4/4
Tray of 6 #1 gallons Field $93.00 Likely available
11/1 - 11/8
1/24 - 4/4

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
Bloom Period August to September
Flower Color Pink-tinged
Foliage Color Near-black to dark green
 

Awards

 

Most Popular Plants

 

Plant Club Content

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Big Blue Stem, Honeycomb Blue Grama,
 
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/03 - 10/04
2024 : 05/01 - 10/05
2023 : 05/04 - 09/30

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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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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

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!