Little Bluestem

Little Bluestem

Schizachyrium scoparium

A beautiful native warm-season prairie grass known for its fine blue-green foliage that turns brilliant shades of copper, orange, and red in autumn. Slender stems rise upright through the growing season and produce soft, silvery seed heads that catch the light in late summer and fall.

The delicate seed plumes persist into winter, adding movement and texture to prairie and meadow landscapes.

A Keystone Prairie Grass

Little Bluestem is one of the most important grasses of North America’s prairie ecosystems. Its deep root system can extend several feet into the soil, helping the plant survive drought while improving soil structure and stability.

This grass provides essential habitat for insects, birds, and small wildlife and is a foundational species in many prairie restoration projects.

A Grass of Prairies and Dry Open Landscapes

Little Bluestem naturally grows in prairies, savannas, dry meadows, open woodlands, and sandy soils. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soils and is extremely tolerant of drought and poor soils once established.

Its upright clumping growth habit makes it excellent for naturalized plantings and erosion control.

Growing Information

Height: 2–4 ft
Spread: 1–2 ft
Light: Full sun
Soil: Dry to average, well-drained soils
Hardiness: Zone 3–9
Growth Rate: Moderate

Best planted in prairie gardens, meadows, sandy landscapes, and ecological restoration plantings.

Ecological Importance

Little Bluestem:

Provides seeds eaten by birds and small mammals
Offers nesting habitat and winter cover for wildlife
Supports a wide range of native insects
Helps stabilize soil with deep roots

Larval Host Plant For

• Crossline Skipper (Polites origenes)
• Dusted Skipper (Atrytonopsis hianna)
• Delaware Skipper (Anatrytone logan)

Associated Prairie & Dry Meadow Species

Common companions in natural plant communities include:

• Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans)
• Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)
• Leadplant (Amorpha canescens)
• Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
• Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum)
• Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
• Smooth Blue Aster (Symphyotrichum laeve)

Planting these species together helps recreate resilient prairie and dry meadow ecosystems that support pollinators, birds, and beneficial insects.

Planting to Protect
Restoring to Thrive
Origin Native Plants

3.5 inch Pots