# Maritime Bushy Bluestem (*Anatherum tenuispatheum*)

Maritime Bushy Bluestem is a tall, grass-like plant that grows in coastal areas. It has beautiful blue-green leaves and can sway gently in the breeze, making it a lovely sight by the sea.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 2
- **Habitat:** Coastal areas

![Maritime Bushy Bluestem](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/106391292/medium.jpg)

Photo: Gary Rogers, CC BY 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/106391292)

## Appearance

The Maritime Bushy Bluestem is a tall, clumping grass with slender, upright stems. Its narrow leaves often have a distinctive blue-green hue, contrasting with the fluffy, reddish-brown seed heads that emerge in late summer, giving it a soft, bushy appearance.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Liliopsida
- **Order:** Poales
- **Family:** Poaceae

## Interesting facts

- In autumn, its leaves can transform into beautiful shades of bronze and orange!
- Its fuzzy seed heads look like tiny bottlebrushes dancing in the coastal breeze!
- Some tiny insects burrow into its stems for cozy, sheltered winter homes!
- Watch out! Its narrow leaves can feel slightly rough, like a tiny saw!

## Special abilities

- **Sand Anchor:** Its deep, fibrous root system creates a strong underground network, helping to stabilize sandy soil and prevent erosion on beaches.
- **Drought Defender:** This bluestem can withstand dry conditions, making it resilient in sandy, well-drained coastal environments with limited freshwater.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 90-180 cm
- **Spread:** 30-60 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late summer to fall
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Wind

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** American Grasshopper (*Schistocerca americana*) — They munch on its leaves and stems.
- **Eaten by:** Seaside Sparrow (*Ammodramus maritimus*) — They forage for its nutritious seeds.
- **Eaten by:** Marsh Rice Rat (*Oryzomys palustris*) — These rodents feed on its seeds and tender shoots.

## Traits

- [Grass-Like](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grass-like): Grass-like plants are herbaceous plants that visually resemble true grasses, typically having long, narrow leaves.
- [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always stay on paths when exploring near plants to protect them and yourself.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Maritime Bushy Bluestem?

Compare seed heads, stem shape, how leaves attach, and the joint where leaf meets stem. A patch of mown lawn rarely shows enough for an exact ID. Grass Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Maritime Bushy Bluestem?

90-180 cm

### How wide does Maritime Bushy Bluestem spread?

30-60 cm

### When does Maritime Bushy Bluestem bloom?

Late summer to fall

### Is Maritime Bushy Bluestem edible?

No

### Is Maritime Bushy Bluestem toxic?

None

### What is Maritime Bushy Bluestem's lifecycle?

Perennial

### How is Maritime Bushy Bluestem pollinated?

Wind

## Where to spot

- [Botanical Research Institute of Texas](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/botanical-research-institute-of-texas) — Texas, US · Botanical Garden
- [Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lyndon-b-johnson-national-grassland) — Texas, US · National Park
- [Berry College](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/berry-college) — Georgia, US · Campus
- [Luverne Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/luverne-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District

[View all places to see Maritime Bushy Bluestem](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/maritime-bushy-bluestem)

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Maritime Bushy Bluestem: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/maritime-bushy-bluestem)