The Perennial Plant Association has named Andropogon gerardii ‘Blackhawks’ — commonly known as Blackhawks big bluestem — the 2026 Perennial Plant of the Year! This award highlights plants that excel in beauty, resilience, and ecological value, and Blackhawks delivers on all three.
Native to North America’s tallgrass prairies, this striking grass offers dramatic seasonal color. Its foliage emerges green in spring, develops reddish-purple tips in summer, and matures to a deep, almost-black hue by fall. Signature “turkey-foot” seed heads rise above the foliage in late summer, adding vertical texture and interest. Despite its bold appearance, Blackhawks remains relatively compact, reaching about 5 feet tall and 2 feet wide, making it ideal for both structured borders and prairie-style plantings.
Blackhawks is more than just a beautiful plant — it’s a wildlife-friendly powerhouse. Dense foliage provides shelter for birds, while its seed heads feed songbirds. Its deep prairie roots make it drought-tolerant and low-maintenance, thriving in average to dry, well-drained soils with full sun exposure. A simple late-winter cutback ensures it continues to flourish year after year.
Where Blackhawks Shines in Hornbaker Gardens
At Hornbaker Gardens, we’re highlighting Blackhawks in several strategic ways:
- Structural Anchor: Its upright habit and dark foliage make it a striking vertical accent and natural focal point in border plantings, especially when paired with early-season perennials.
- Prairie & Meadow Areas: Honoring its prairie heritage, we plant Blackhawks in mass drifts within our native-grass and prairie-style beds, evoking the sweeping beauty of the tallgrass prairie.
- Companion Plantings: To showcase its deep fall color and textural interest, we combine it with late-season bloomers such as black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia), stonecrop (Hylotelephium), and asters (Symphyotrichum), highlighting its versatility and seasonal impact.
This national recognition celebrates Blackhawks for its visual drama, ecological benefits, and durability, showing why gardeners across the country are embracing native plants. Whether in sweeping prairie drifts, structured garden borders, or as a bold vertical accent, Blackhawks delivers seasonal transformation and year-round garden interest.