What is it? Little Bluestem, also known as Schizachyrium scoparium, is a highly ornamental native prairie grass.
Native to where? It is native to most of the contiguous United States.
Hardiness Zone: Plants are hardy from USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 9.
What does it look like? It grows to become an upright, roundish mound of soft, bluish-green or grayish-green blades. Little Bluestem reaches a height of 3 feet by autumn, when it turns a striking reddish-bronze, bearing illuminated tufted seeds.
Bloom Time: In July, it initiates flowering stalks, which reach 4 to 5 feet in height.
Growth Habit: Little Blue Stem is a species of bunchgrass, which grow as singular plants in clumps, tufts, hummocks, or bunches, rather than forming a sod or lawn. The rigid clumps can withstand snow and rain, allowing the reddish grass stems to remain upright for most of the winter.
Growing Conditions: This prairie grass excels in dry sandy soils. It is not recommended for damp sites or heavy clay soils. Full sun.
Environmental Benefits: Little Bluestem is a host plant for numerous skipper butterflies including the Cobweb Skipper, Dusted Skipper, Ottoe Skipper, Delaware Skipper, Crossline Skipper and Swarthy Skipper.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizachyrium_scoparium
https://www.prairienursery.com/little-bluestem-schizachyrium-scoparium.html
Image Sources:
Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=807822
By Montrealais - Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4358954
Little Bluestem
Plant Pickup Day is Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 531 11th St., corner of 11th Street and Elizabeth Street in Baraboo, from 9 am to 2 pm.
Last year, some of the plant varieties purchased in the online sale were backordered from the nursery due to weather-related setbacks in their greenhouses. We received those varieties about a month later and we then distributed them to those who were waiting.
While we hope this will not be an issue again this year, there is that possibility. As all of us who garden know, there is no guarantee that plants or weather will cooperate with our plans. If we run into this issue again, our plan is to make sure you get your plants as soon as they are ready from our supplier. Thanks in advance for your understanding!