Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium · Warm-season, perennial, C4
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Native Prairie
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 3 through 9, excellent cold and heat tolerance, goes dormant in winter.
About This Grass
Grows 2 to 4 feet tall with blue-green summer foliage turning striking copper-red in autumn. Features slender stems and paired, zig-zag raceme seed heads.
Blade Characteristics
Narrow flat blades up to one-quarter inch wide, smooth with pointed tips and folded vernation.
Growing Information
Growth Habit
Bunch-type grass forming dense tufts, non-invasive with very short rhizomes.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun and well-draining soil with high drought tolerance once established. Prefers poor to medium fertility soils.
Mowing & Maintenance
Low maintenance native grass, typically not mown except for an annual spring cutback to encourage new growth.
Identified on 10/4/2026