Sand bluestem is a relative of Big bluestem and grows on sandy soils.

• Grows dense white-yellowish hairs on the seed heads.
• Leaves are usually straw colored and do not have hair.
• Provides excellent grazing, but is not as palatable as other species.

Photo Credit: Terry Wright, USFWS

For a complete Refuge species list

For in-depth plant information
connect with the U.S. Dept Agriculture Plant Data Base

Last Updated: 9/5/08

Plants that grow naturally on this short grass prairie are called "native" plants. The Refuge has four major groups.

• Grasses
• Wildflowers
• Shrubs
• Trees

Vegetation on the Rocky Mountain Arsenal is a mixture of different grasses, shrubs. semi-shrubs, forbes and wildflowers.

Several species of prairie grass grow on the Refuge but the most common are the perennial BLUE GRAMA and WESTERN WHEAT GRASS.

Learn more about prairie grasses at
FRONT RANGE LIVING.