No prairie garden will be complete without Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), an iconic grass of the American prairies. It's just as suitable for more formal style gardens with its tall, dramatic tufts of blue-green stems and arching foliage. As summer turns to fall, the leaves become red, fading to a burnt coppery hue. Although the three-fingered seed heads are relatively small, they also add to the drama, creating a haze of purple-bronze over the sturdy grass tufts. Sadly, much of the prairie is gone, but we can still enjoy nature in our gardens.