Schizachyrium scoparium, commonly called little bluestem, is native to prairies, fields, clearings, hills, limestone glades, 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.
'Jazz' was introduced in 2010 by Intrinsic Perennial Gardens of Hebron, Illinois. Discovered as a sport of Schizachyrium scoparium ‘The Blues’, it was chosen for its shorter form that will not flop over. It has narrow blue foliage with purple hues in fall and grows 2 to 2.5 ft. tall and 1 to 1.5 ft. wide. Purplish-bronze flowers give way to clusters of fluffy, silvery-white seed heads which may persist into early winter.
