Unique Features: Blackhawks is a cultivar of Big Bluestem (aka ‘Turkey Foot’) grass which is native to Midwestern North American tall grass prairies.  It is warm season grass which starts growing when soil temperatures are above 50 degrees F for a couple of weeks, mid-May to late May, so it should be cut back to 4’’ to 6’’ tall in early May.  The foliage emerges dark green shifting to purple shades as summer progresses. If you look closely the minute yellowish white flower petals emerging from the purple stems are briefly visible.  The seeds that follow are attractive to song birds while the foliage resists deer and rabbit feeding though the latter will sometimes shelter in the dried            clumps.  Big Bluestem can slowly spread by rhizomes or seeds that the birds miss.