The golden copper foliage of broomstraw grass, Andropogon virginicus, waving in the wind beckons us to harvest the stems to make brooms. The native warm season perennial grass, stands two to four feet tall along roadsides and railroad tracks, in fallow fields, pastures, and open woodlands in winter.
The grass is commonly found in sandy, low-fertility soils and eroded ‘wornout’ soils. The clumping growth habit and fine leaves and stems of broomstraw aka broomsedge and whiskey grass, make an ideal nesting and brooding site for bobwhite quail and wild turkey.
In winter, small birds harvest seeds from flowering stalks when other plants are unavailable. Native bees nest in broomstraw or harvest parts to construct nests. The grass is the larval host for the zabulon skipper butterfly.
Native plant nurseries recommend the clump forming grass as a landscape plant for xeriscaping, land restoration projects, and for adding to dry arrangements. The grass is planted with native perennials like butterfly weed, purple coneflower, hyssopleaved boneset, black-eyed Susan, and ironweed.
Broomstraw beckons us to make brooms.
Fields of wild broomstraw grass grow across rural South Carolina where generations have harvested it to make useful household items for everyday living like brooms, grass mats, and woven window coverings. Andropogon virginicus flowers in September and October and is harvested in late fall and winter to make brooms for the porch, yard, and house. These soft flexible straw-colored brooms are durable and maneuver in places where straight handled brooms cannot get.
Anyone can make a broomstraw broom. Cut bundles of broomstraw to ground level. Gather a twoinch thick bundle with your hands. Line up the cut ends evenly at what is to become the broom handle area. Tightly secure the bundle at the cut end with a thick rubberband.
Outdoors in a wideopen area, shake the broomstraw vigorously to remove loose seeds and fluff. A finely finished broom should not leave debris on the surface it will be sweeping. After cleaning the broom, wrap layers of twine over the rubberband for a more secure handle. For a decorative broom, cover the twine handle area with fabric and make a loop to hang up the broom when not in use.
Broomstraw grass brooms are utilitarian and decorative.
Broomstraw brooms can sweep the indoor floors and the outdoor porch and garden. They make attractive handmade gifts.
To create a grass tapestry, make a simple five inch by seven inch cardboard loom strung with warp thread. Finger weave stems of broomgrass over and under the warp thread. The grass is the weft.
Early man engaged the wisdom of the hands with native materials to advance human brain development, a practice as ancient as a blade of grass.
The clumpforming native grass, Andropogon virginicus, is distributed across the eastern United States.
Leave a Reply