Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Andropogoneae
Grass Category
Native Prairie Grass, Ornamental, Erosion Control, Pasture
Variety / Cultivar
Native species (Wild type); common cultivars include 'The Blues' and 'Standing Ovation'
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 3-10; high cold and heat tolerance; goes dormant and turns bronze after first hard frost.
About This Grass
A medium-height bunchgrass (18-36 inches) known for its blue-green summer color turning to mahogany-red or bronze in fall. Seed heads are fuzzy, white racemes that persist into winter.
Blade Characteristics
Fine to medium width (2-5mm), flat or folded, pointed tips. Color is distinctively blue-green at base. Vernation is folded; ligule is a short ciliate membrane; auricles are absent.
Root System
Deep, fibrous root system extending up to 5-8 feet; no rhizomes/stolons; excellent drought tolerance; slow to moderate establishment speed.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to North America; predominant in the Great Plains and Eastern United States
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); non-spreading, forming tight ornamental mounds
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun (minimum 6 hours); low water requirements once established; drought tolerant; prefers well-drained, lean soils with pH 5.0-7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Maintenance is low; mow or cut back to 2-3 inches in late winter or early spring before new growth starts; requires no fertilization in most landscape settings.
Special Characteristics
Highly drought-tolerant, provides structural interest in winter, excellent deer resistance, salt tolerant, and provides high-quality erosion control on slopes.
Ecological Information
Native status; high wildlife value providing nesting material and cover for birds; larval host for several skipper butterfly species; excellent for prairie restoration.