bluestem

noun

blue·​stem ˈblü-ˌstem 

1

: a tall North American grass (Andropogon gerardii synonym A. furcatus) that has smooth bluish leaf sheaths and slender spikes borne in pairs or clusters, is a dominant grass of the originally tallgrass prairies, and is used for hay and forage

called also big bluestem

compare sand bluestem

2

: little bluestem

Examples of bluestem in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

No amount of blue vervain or bushy bluestem on a corporate campus will make even the slightest dent in Amazon’s cumulative carbon footprint — from its growing empire of data and fulfillment centers to the delivery-vehicle miles traveled — however sustainable its headquarters are advertised to be. —Audrey Wachs, Curbed, 22 Feb. 2021

Native plants like bluestem grass, bayberry, and beach plum were cultivated to give texture and guide the sight lines. —Chloe Schama, Vogue, 2 Mar. 2023

Little bluestem, a widespread prairie grass, grows from Mexico to Canada, and bison can tolerate temperatures ranging from –40 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. —Julia Rosen, The Atlantic, 25 July 2022

And bluestem and switch grass reach their maximum heights in September. —Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2022

Feel the satiny fluff of butterfly weed gone to seed and the silky tufts of shoulder-high bushy bluestem. —Chadd Scott, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2021

Perennials with fall foliage changes include switch grass and little bluestem, which can blush plum-purple, burgundy, or golden; the bluestem can get almost pinkish-lavender on its way to finishing warm mocha. —Miri Talabac, baltimoresun.com, 30 Sep. 2021

As instructed, Matt chased after her, running flat-out to where the chest-high bluestem hit a mowed field. —Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 4 Dec. 2020

Charging into the bluestem, Indiangrass and switchgrass that flourishes where corn and soybeans once grew, the two canines scoured the thick cover for pheasants. —Star Tribune, 10 Oct. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

1818, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing bluestem

• big bluestem
• little bluestem
• sand bluestem

Kids Definition

bluestem

noun

blue·​stem ˈblü-ˌstem 

: either of two important grasses of North America with bluish leaf sheaths that are used to feed livestock