A Beginner’s Guide To Little Bluestem

Little Bluestem is an ornamental grass native to most of North America^[1]. Scientifically known as Schizachyrium scoparium, it grows 2-4′ tall in full sun &well draining soil^[2]. A highly adaptable grass, it has blue-green foliage in Spring that changes to a purple-bronze color in Fall. Beneficial to wildlife, it is a larval host plant to many caterpillars & can be grazed^[3].

Of all of our native grasses, Little Bluestem probably puts on a colorful show longer than any other (save for Big Bluestem). What makes it special is that the color of the blades and stems begin as a blue-green color in Spring, transforming into a golden-bronze mixed with hues of purple in fall. And the seed heads will give it a white accent with the small tufts of hair that are attached to each seed. It is particularly stunning during the golden hours of dawn or dusk, and especially when backlit.

And Little Bluestem is growing in popularity! It is becoming a more common choice for gardeners as people become more aware of native plants and their importance to our ecosystem. Why not use Little Bluestem as a natural border between species of flowers in a flower bed? It looks great, requires nearly no maintenance, and it benefits the environment.

Ecologically, Little Bluestem is one of the more important grasses native to North America. Hosting and being a food source for insects, hooved animals, birds, and provides cover for nesting of birds. It’s wide native range speaks to it’s adaptability, and allows it to provide for all the aforementioned creatures in nearly the entire continent. Make no mistake, this grass is truly valuable to wildlife.

I’ve been growing this plant for nearly a decade, using it in my backyard micro-prairie and also in formal flowerbeds. And in this guide I’ll give you all the facts plus share my direct experiences.

Facts

Native Range

The native range of Little Bluestem spans most of North America. It is present (and native) all continental states except California, Nevada, and Oregon. And it is native in all Canadian Provinces that border America.

Reference Table

Scientific Name	Schizachyrium scoparium
Common Name(s)	Little Bluestem
Native Range, USDA Zone	North America, USDA Hardiness zones 3-9
Bloom Time	September to January
Bloom Duration, Color	White seed heads, purple and gold foliage
Height	2-5′
Spacing / Spread	1-2′
Light Requirements	Full sun
Soil Types	Well drained textures, Sandy to clay-loam
Moisture	Dry to medium
Fauna Associations / Larval Hosts	Hosts several skippers, grasshoppers, and other insects.

What are the Benefits of

Beauty

Little Bluestem puts on a show from late Spring through Christmas. Interesting and beautiful hues of green-purple on the stalks and leaves give off a blueish appearance in Spring, hence it’s common name. By Fall the foliage has turned into a golden brown or bronze color with hints of purple – another stunning look.

Low maintenance

Since this grass tends to stand through winter, no real maintenance is required. In Spring, once insects are active, you can remove the previous years culms and leaves and compost them.

Wildlife use

As far as grasses go, Little Bluestem is a powerhouse for how it benefits wildlife. Multiple speices of pollinator feed on the foliage, both in the larvae and adult stage. Additionally birds and rodents eat the seeds. And the clump-forming nature mean that it can be used as nesting or a roosting site due to the cover it provides.

Erosion control

The strong fibrous root system of Little Bluestem runs deep. This will help hold soil in place and prevent erosion.

Forage

This grass can be grazed by buffalo,, cattle, and horses. Although not a ‘prime’ source of protein, it is quite good in Spring.

Identification and Characteristics

While the broad identification characteristics of Little Bluestem are the same, due to the wide native range of this grass many local varieties have developed^[2][3]. Thus, you may notice some particular characteristics unique to your area. Likewise, numerous varieties or cultivars are available for purchase from specialty nurseries and occasionally some big-box stores.

Stalk

Grass stalks are botanically known as culms, and those of Little Bluestem typically grow 1-3′ depending on soil and moisture conditions. Their shape is round, but slightly flattened^[2]. The color of the culms range from a winter-green in Spring to Bronze.

Leaf

Leaves are often folded or curved upward, 2-12 long by 1/16-1/4″ wide^[3]. Their color ranges from light-green to a slight blue color, and will turn gold, bronze, or reddish color in Autumn.

Flower

Racemes of paired spikelet flowers ascend stalks that are fertile. Each raceme is up to 3″ long. Each spikelet is about 1/4″ long (6 mm).

You can collect the seed in Autumn when the spikelets appear white and the feather looks fluffy. Just run your hand along the stalk to strip the spikelet/seed.

Root

The root system is small diameter fibrous roots that often reach 5′ depth^[3]. The rhizomes are most likely to occur in more moist situations. But regardless, this plant is not aggressive.

Growing Conditions

The growing conditions of Little Bluestem are straight forward: Full sun, dry to medium-moist conditions, and soil that can drain. It does not like wet-feet, and can be out-competed by taller grasses or flowers in moist environments^[2][3].

Caring for Little Bluestem

Little Bluestem is generally disease free, however it can sometimes get fungal rust on the blades. For other care, this isn’t a do, but more of a don’t. Do not fertilize Little Bluestem. Fertilizer will make the plant grow too tall and likely flop over.

Cutting back Little Bluestem

Ok so here is the thing – you don’t need to cut back Little Bluestem unless you want to, ever. The previous seasons blades and stems will stand up most of the winter providing cover to wildlife and even over-wintering some insects. So, if you can bear it, please don’t cut it back in the Fall. If you must, cut it back in Spring after insects have begun to emerge, usually when daytime highs regularly reach 60F.

How to Grow Little Bluestem from Seed

Little Bluestem seed is easy to germinate. It has no special pre-treatment requirements such as cold-stratification, but can be direct sown in disturbed soil or containers (but you can still winter sow it if you wish….I do). Now, it can be a bit slow to develop from seed. I personally prefer to germinate it in Spring and not plant it out until Fall once the seedlings has a nice section of mass.

For direct sowing it is definitely best to do so in early Spring, as the soil is generally moist and doesn’t dry out. Just scatter little bluestem seed in disturbed soil and then walk or drive on it to make sure there is good contact. It will germinate when daytime temperatures regularly approach 70F^[2].

To germinate Little Bluestem in containers, you can do that anytime. Although it is still best to do it earlier in the growing season because the plant will have more time to develop. But simply fill a suitable container at least 4″ deep with moist potting soil. Sprinkle some seed on top, and press it in with your thumb. You will want to sow at least 5 seeds per pot as Little Bluestem often has a lower germination rate. You can thin them once they have germinated.

Place this container in a location that gets morning sun and afternoon shade. Water the container in the morning via misting so you don’t wash the seed away. If outside temperatures are approaching 70F during the day, germination will generally occur within a couple weeks.

Propagating by division

Little Bluestem is one of those grasses that needs to be divided every 3-5 years. This is because as the clump grows larger and larger, the center can die if not divided. But it can be propagated by dividing it in the Spring or Fall. I’ve done so many times in my backyard micro-prairie. And dividing it is one of the easiest way to get a mature plant for free. You absolutely want to do this in Spring or Fall, when the plant is dormant or near-dormant. The tools you should have for this is a spade, pruning saw or bow saw, and some top soil to help backfill.

Do divide Little Bluestem, simply dig out the clump using a spade. Place the spade several inches away from the clump and angle it between 45-60 degrees from horizontal. Dig around the clump in this manner until you can ‘pop’ it out of the hole. Then, take a bow saw, pruning saw, or your spade and cut the clump into 2-3 sections. Then replant each section immediately to the same depth.

If you want a bit more explanation, I made the below video of myself dividing Little Bluestem (and other grasses). It is short, but shows the process well.

Wildlife, Pests, and Diseases associated with Little Bluestem

Pollinators

Although it is a grass, Little Bluestem does support native pollinators by hosting several caterpillars. According to the National Wildlife Federation, Little Bluestem hosts six different skippers^[4]. This includes the Cobweb Skipper, Crossline, Dusted Skipper, Swarthy Skipper, Indian, and Leonard’s Skipper. Furthermore, some skippers will overwinter just above the base clump within the foliage^[5].

In addition to pollinators, the foliage is also fed on by numerous other species. Over a dozen short-horned bugs feed on the foliage^[6], while several grass hoppers have also been observed^[7].

Livestock

Little Bluestem is a high quality forage material for cows, goats, and sheep. It is a good grazing food source from roughly mid-April to mid-September^[8]. Once seed sets, the quality of the forage material declines rapidly^[9].

Deer and Rabbits

Deer and rabbits may browse Little Bluestem, particularly when foliage is tender and young. But in general it is not a preferred food source.

Where to buy

Little Bluestem is not typically sold in nurseries, but it is increasingly becoming more available. However, you can be sure to find it (almost always) at specialty nurseries that deal in Native Plants. You can find native plant nurseries near you on our interactive map.

Cultivars

Over the years numerous vareities and cultivars have been developed. These are bred for various characteristics and sold as such. Some of the more common types are listed below:

• Ahring – A wide canopy variety that does great in akaline soils with a pH > 8^[10]
• Aldous – a particularly tall variety that often reaches 5-6′ in height^[11]
• Blaze – A variety from Nebraska that puts on a purple-bronze-orange display in Autumn
• Camper – Developed for forage
• Cimmaron – naturally occurring from Kansas and the panhandle of Oklahoma. It does well in particularly dry environments with at least 12″ of annual precipitation^[12].
• ‘Itasca’
• ‘The Blues’ – Has a particular striking shade of blue-green foliage^[2]
• Pastura – was developed as a good forage for livestock^[3]

Where to buy seeds

We have ordered a variety of native flower seeds from Everwilde Farms, which you can order right from Amazon through our link on our RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS PAGE. (We may earn a small commission when you purchase through our links, at no cost to you. This helps support our website.)

Uses of Little Bluestem

Garden Uses

Little Bluestem is commonly used as a major component in prairie restorations. This is often because it is native to almost the entire continent, and it brings several major ecological benefits. As such, this plant is right at home in meadows, border gardens, or wild areas. I personally have multiple specimens growing in my backyard micro-prairie.

When it comes to a regular suburban yard, you can absolutely use Little Bluestem as an ornamental grass in formal mulched flower beds. It also looks great as a border or in a mass planting. Again, I have this plant as an accent near a light-pole alongside my driveway.

Companion Plants

For companion plants, try other species that like similar conditions and soil textures. Some suggestions would include the following:

• Aromatic Aster
• Butterfly Weed
• Echinacea angustifolia
• False Sunflower
• Harebell
• Rattlesnake Master
• Spotted Beebalm
• Tennessee Coneflower
• Wild Bergamot

Additionally, there are numerous grasses that do well with Little Bluestem. Side Oats Grama, Prairie Dropseed, and Buffalo Grass all love similar growing conditions and look nice paired with it.

Native American Uses

Several Native American uses of Little Bluestem have been documented^[13]. The Comanche tribe used ashes from burnt stems as a venereal aid. They would also form switches from bundles of stems and use them in sweat lodge ceremonies. And the Lakota tribe would use the stems and leaves as insulation in clothing such as moccasins.

Final Thoughts

Truly one of the most important grasses in North America, Little Bluestem provides for numerous forms of wildlife. The foliage serves as food for skipper caterpillars, grasshoppers, other beetles, and then for hooved grazers. The seed provides food for birds and rodents. And finally the plant acts as cover and nesting material. So, the grass does all this before we even talk about it’s adaptability and beauty!

I am happy to say that it is growing in popularity, although still not enough people have taken the plunge. I know that driving around my area, while I do see some homes landscaping with Little Bluestem, these are still the minority. Other ornamental (and invasive) grasses are the norm. But, I hope that I can change that and convince people by showing them the beauty it can provide, as I am growing it in a prominent location in my front yard.

Find more native grasses here