Broomsedge (Andropogon virginicus)

 Broomsedge: Andropogon virginicus, common name broomsedge, is an ornamental, perennial sedge grass. It's a native species originating in North America as far north as Maryland and Virginia, all of Central America, and South America as far south as Venezuela.

This stately sedge grass requires full sunshine, especially in the morning. It also loves highly moist soils. It's a fantastic addition to add a lovely visual element near a pond, water garden, or creek bank.

Broomsedge is lovely as meadow grass and a fast-growing species with more than just decorative value.

This grass takes its name from its traditional function. Historically, people let the green grass fade to tan in the fall, dry, and then harvest it. They would bundle their bounty at the end of a stick, fashioning them into a broom.

That also explains its alternate common names, broom straw grass or old-field broom straw grass.

Broomsedge Can Help Manage Soil Erosion

Some gardeners choose brooms edge for its lovely appearance and golden tones in the fall.

However, others plant it to cope with soil erosion, especially near areas in which flooding occurs. Broomsedge is a fast-growing plant with a spreading habit of as much as ten inches per growing season. That means its sprawling root system can take hold of the earth and help cover it quickly, protecting against two primary causes of erosion--wind and water.

The Interesting Good Looks of Broomsedge

Broom straw grass can reach up to four feet tall and approximately a foot wide in a single season. The grass blades are tall, thin, and a pleasant green early in the season; during the late summer, the color changes to a blue or purple and then fades to a golden yellow. It also develops feathery, fluffy orange flowers in autumn.

Many people let broom straw grass remain in place throughout the winter to add color to an otherwise dreary landscape.

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