Little Bluestem 'The Blues'
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Schizachyrium scoparium 'The Blues'
Schizachyrium scoparium, commonly called little bluestem, is native to prairies, fields, clearings, hills, limestone meadows, roadsides, waste areas, and open woods from Alberta to Quebec south to Arizona and Florida. It was one of the dominant grasses of the vast tallgrass prairie region, which once covered rich and fertile soils in many parts of central North America.
'The Blues' typically grows 2-4' tall. Features erect, upright, broom-like clumps of slender leaves (1/4" wide) which are tinted blue. Pinkish-tinged culms (stems). Foliage acquires burgundy-red tones in autumn. Purplish-bronze flowers appear in 3" long racemes on branched stems rising above the foliage in August. Flowers give way to clusters of fluffy, silvery-white seed heads, which may persist into early winter. Blue foliage and fall color are the best ornamental features of this grass.
It is easily grown in average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun. It tolerates a wide range of soil conditions, including clay soils and occasional inundation. It performs well in poor soils. Once established, it has good drought resistance. It tolerates high heat and humidity. Cut to the ground in late winter to early spring—plant in full sun to avoid flopping late in the season.
Height: 2'-4'
Spread: 1.5'-2'
Bloom: August-October
Light: Full sun
Water: Low-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.
