It is a bunchgrass which grows in tufts and can reach 7 feet (2.1 meters) in height under favorable conditions.

It is found growing from the Mississippi River west to the Rocky Mountains and from Canada to Chihuahua,[1] Mexico.

[3] It prefers sandy soils and will dominate in areas that average less than 30 inches of rain annually.

[4] Sand bluestem is a high quality forage with good palatability for livestock, but it cannot stand up to continuous heavy grazing.

It is also valuable as browse for wildlife and as a source of edible seeds and nesting habitat for upland birds.