Little Bluestem 'Prairie Blues'
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Schizachyrium scoparium 'Prairie Blues'
Schizachyrium scoparium, commonly known as little bluestem, is a charming grass native to North America. You can spot it in a variety of habitats like prairies, fields, clearings, hills, limestone glades, roadsides, waste areas, and open woods, thriving across a wide area from Alberta to Quebec and all the way down to Arizona and Florida. Little bluestem usually reaches a height of 2 to 4 feet, showcasing slender, flat, linear green leaves that transform into beautiful bronze-orange shades during the fall. In August, it adorns the landscape with purplish-bronze flowers, followed by lovely, fluffy silvery-white seed heads that add a touch of elegance and often linger into the winter months. Many delightful species of birds relish its seeds as well.
One standout cultivar of Schizachyrium scoparium is 'Prairie Blues,' known for its striking gray-blue leaves. This cultivar grows taller, reaching heights of 3 to 3.5 feet and spreads about 1.5 to 2 feet wide. In the fall, it showcases its fluffy silver seed heads and rosy-orange foliage that can persist beautifully into winter.
Little bluestem is quite easy to cultivate in average conditions, preferring dry to medium moisture and well-drained soil in full sun. It’s adaptable to various soil types, including clay soils, and can handle occasional flooding. This plant flourishes in poor soils and displays impressive drought resistance once established. Plus, it can withstand high heat and humidity. To keep it looking its best and prevent flopping later in the season, it’s a good idea to plant it in full sun and trim it back to the ground in late winter to early spring.
Height: 3’-3.5'
Spread: 1.5’-2'
Bloom: August-February
Light: Full sun
Water: Low, Medium
Zone: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Origin: Canada to Mexico
Spring Shipping:
Orders are shipped within 7-10 business days. We will email you if there are expected delays.
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.
