Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium · Warm-season, Perennial, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Andropogoneae
Grass Category
Native Prairie Grass, Ornamental Grass, Erosion Control grass
Variety / Cultivar
Wild type (possibly 'The Blues' or 'Twilight Zone' given the intense purple-red tinting)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 3-9; excellent cold and heat tolerance; goes dormant and turns tan/bronze after the first hard frost.
About This Grass
An ornamental native grass forming upright clumps mostly 2-4 feet tall. It is noted for its color transitions: blue-green in summer, turning striking shades of mahogany, purple, and red in autumn. Seed heads are fuzzy, silver-white racemes appearing in late summer.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are 3-6mm wide (medium-coarse), flat or folded at the base. Foliage often has a glaucous blue-green hue with distinct reddish-purple tinting at the nodes and tips. Ligule is short and membranous; auricles are absent; vernation is folded.
Root System
Extremely deep and fibrous, often reaching 5-8 feet deep. This deep system provides exceptional drought tolerance and soil stabilization; it does not form a thick thatch or sod.
Growing Information
Origin Region
North America; widespread across the United States and Canada (Great Plains to Eastern Seaboard).
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming). It forms dense, upright tufts and does not spread via rhizomes or stolons.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun (minimum 6 hours). Once established, it is highly drought-tolerant with low water needs. Prefers well-drained, lean soils; it can flop if the soil is too rich or moist. pH adaptable from 5.0 to 8.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Low maintenance. Not typically mowed as a lawn. Cut back to 2-4 inches above the ground in late winter or early spring before new growth appears. Fertilization is rarely needed.
Special Characteristics
High drought tolerance, salt tolerance, and deer resistance. Known for its 'winter interest' due to persistent upright stems. Provides excellent erosion control on slopes.
Ecological Information
Native to North America. Vital for wildlife: larval host for several Skipper butterflies; provides nesting material and cover for ground-nesting birds; seeds provide winter food for songbirds.