Little Bluestem 'Standing Ovation'
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Schizachyrium scoparium 'Standing Ovation'
Schizachyrium scoparium, commonly known as little bluestem, is a type of grass native to North America. It is found in prairies, fields, clearings, hills, limestone glades, roadsides, waste areas, and open woods from Alberta to Quebec and Arizona to Florida. Little bluestem typically grows to a height of 2-4 feet and has slender, flat, linear green leaves that turn bronze-orange in the fall. In August, it produces purplish-bronze flowers followed by fluffy, silvery-white seed heads that are attractive and often persist into winter. Many species of birds feed on its seeds.
‘Standing Ovation’ is a cultivar with blue leaf blades and red tips. Leaf blades are broader than those found on straight-species plants. Fall color consists of attractive shades of red and maroon, with retention of such colors continuing late in the season (no “brown out”). This cultivar's upright and rigid plant habit is typically retained without lodging when plants are grown in rich soils. ‘Standing Ovation’ was discovered as a naturally occurring whole plant mutation in Landenberg, Pennsylvania, in the summer of 2003. Parentage is unknown, but ‘The Blues’ is considered a likely parent. U.S. Plant Patent PP25,202 was issued on December 30, 2014.
On average, growing a little bluestem in dry to medium moisture and well-drained soil in full sun is easy. The plant tolerates various soil conditions, including clay soils and occasional inundation. It performs well in poor soils and has good drought resistance once established. The plant is also tolerant of high heat and humidity. To avoid flopping late in the season, it is best to plant it in full sun and cut it to the ground in late winter to early spring.
Height: 3’-4’
Spread: 1.5’-2’
Bloom: August-February
Light: Full sun
Water: Dry, Medium
Zone: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Origin: Canada to Mexico
Winter Shipping: We will continue to ship throughout winter. If you prefer, we are happy to hold your order until spring; please include that request in your shipping notes.
When you order plants from our nursery, you can expect them to arrive in the best possible condition. Our team carefully packs each order using sturdy, biodegradable packaging materials.
Your plants' appearance may vary depending on the season and their current growth stage. We may cut back the leafy growth of some plants to prepare them for shipment and transplanting.
5 Gallon and Up: Any plant purchased to ship over 5 Gallons will be shipped bare root. This means we will remove the plant from its original pot, remove the soil surrounding the roots, and wrap the roots with a biodegradable plastic bag. This reduces weight and the likelihood of damage during shipping.
Once your plants arrive, it is essential to plant them as soon as possible. This will help them rebound and thrive. If you cannot plant immediately, water regularly and keep the roots off heat-conducting surfaces.
Newly transplanted plants often require more water until their roots are well established. Plan to water them 1-3 times weekly for the first few months.
