bluestem

noun

blue·​stem ˈblü-ˌstem How to pronounce bluestem (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 And bluestem and switch grass reach their maximum heights in September. — Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2022 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 Hikers will pass by Texas persimmon trees and bluestem prairie grass, with armadillos and rabbits popping in and out of the wilderness. — Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Sep. 2025 Yellow bluestem is a native species from Asia that was introduced for forage and erosion control in desert and grassland areas. — Karen Bartunek, AZCentral.com, 1 Mar. 2025 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 The bugs primarily attack tropical and subtropical grasses such as Bermudagrass, Bahia grass, Johnsongrass, and various bluestem species. — Associate News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025 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

Word History

First Known Use

1818, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bluestem was in 1818

Phrases Containing bluestem

Browse Nearby Words

bluesteel
bluestem
bluestocking
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bluestem.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bluestem. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

bluestem

noun
blue·​stem ˈblü-ˌstem How to pronounce bluestem (audio)
: either of two important grasses of North America with bluish leaf sheaths that are used to feed livestock

More from Merriam-Webster on bluestem

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bluestem

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