Andropogon ternarius ‘Black Mountain’

‘Black Mountain’ puts this underappreciated native grass squarely in the spotlight. Andropogon ternarius varies across its natural range, growing up to 5’ tall in some areas. ‘Black Mountain’ has stayed at 3’ or under and is more compact and refined than the species. Flowering stems emerge blue green and develop pink and red hues later in summer. The inflorescences have spikelets covered in silvery, white hairs. The effect is shimmering white tufts that contrast with the stems and sparkle in the sunlight.  As with the species, ‘Black Mountain’ thrives in poor soils that are coarse, rocky, or sandy, and it’s not fussy about pH. It’s perfect for tough spots, lending itself equally well to urban landscapes and ecological plantings.