Little Bluestem

Schizachyrium scoparium

Plant Characteristics:

• Duration: Perennial
• Habit: Grass/Grass-like
• Root type: Fibrous 
• Size class: 3-6ft
• Native Habitat: Woodlands’ edge, Opening, Hillsides, Slopes, Prairie, Plains, Meadows, Pastures, Savannas 
• Bloom time: June-December

Growing Conditions 

• Light:
  • Sun, Partial Shade
• Soil:
  • Moisture: Dry
  • CaCO3 Tol: High
  • Drought Tol: High 
  • Description: Well-drained soil. Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay, Limestone-based
• Water Use;
  •  Low
• Condition comments:
  • Best planted en mass
  • The visual dynamics it provides range from blue-green in late summer to golden with cotton-tufted seed heads in winter
  • It readily reseeds so little bluestem is not recommended for small gardens

Benefits:

• Ornamental: Best in clumps, fall conspicuous 
• Use by wildlife: Nesting material, ground cover, Seeds-Small mammals, Seeds-granivorous birds, graze 
• Deer resistant
• Attracts butterflies and birds 
• Interesting flower and foliage 
• Use as nesting material for native bees

Additional Comments: 

• Tolerant of a wide range of soils but will not tolerate wetlands or sub-irrigated sites.