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 bluestem2
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
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
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bluestem.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near bluestem
Cite this Entry
“Bluestem.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bluestem. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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