Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Andropogoneae
Grass Category
Native Prairie Grass and Ornamental Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Native straints (such as 'The Blues' or 'Prairie Blues' as ornamental cultivars)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 9, excellent cold tolerance and heat tolerance.
About This Grass
An upright, slender native bunchgrass growing 2 to 4 feet tall. Foliage starts bluish-green in spring and summer, transitioning in autumn to a striking coppery-brown with reddish-purple tones. Seed heads are fluffy, silvery-white racemes appearing along the upper stems in late summer to fall.
Blade Characteristics
Medium-width blades (2-4mm), flat to folded, pointed tips, often with a distinct bluish-green or grayish-green cast, sometimes tinged with purple at the base. Vernation is folded in the bud with a membranous ligule and absent auricles.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system extending 5 feet or more into the soil profile. Slow to moderate establishment speed, highly drought-tolerant once established due to deep root penetration.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to North America, widely distributed across the Great Plains, prairies, and open woodlands of the United States and Canada; well-adapted to dry, upland soils.
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming) with short, stout rhizomes that form dense, upright tufts rather than an aggressive spreading sod.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (6+ hours of direct sunlight). Low water needs, extremely drought tolerant once established. Prefers well-drained, nutrient-poor or medium soils; intolerant of heavy, poorly drained clay soils and excessive moisture.
Mowing & Maintenance
Not typically used for standard lawns. In ornamental settings, cut back to the ground in late winter or early spring before new growth emerges. Low maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional drought tolerance, excellent erosion control on slopes, good resistance to most turf diseases and pests, provides brilliant fall and winter visual interest.
Ecological Information
Native status in North America. High wildlife value, serving as an important larval host for various skipper butterflies and providing critical nesting cover and food for upland birds and small mammals.