Schyzachyrium scoparium-Little Bluestem

Little Bluestem earns its place as one of our most-loved native grasses with its four seasons of varied interest and unmatched wildlife value. Its mound of attractive green shoots in the spring give way to a shock of upright, uniquely blue-green foliage in the summer. Atop these come fluffy white seed heads in late summer that catch the sunlight as they sway in the breeze. The leaves turn a striking coppery-red color after the first frost and this color persists through the winter along with the plant’s upright form and stature, making it a visual focal-point through the cold months.

A keystone species of the prairie, Little Bluestem plays larval host to numerous types of butterflies and attracts a multitude of insects that feed on its lush foliage including grasshoppers, walking sticks, beetles and spittlebugs. Its seeds are a food source for birds and small mammals and its stems provide overwintering habitat for countless insects, notably the queen bumble bee. Its deep root system makes it drought tolerant and suitable for erosion control.

Sun: Full, Partial

Soil: Medium, Medium-Dry, Dry

Bloom Time: July, August, September, October

Height: 3 ft