Little bluestem is a warm-season perennial bunchgrass native to much of the United States. This prairie native is called "bluestem" because of the characteristic blue-purple stems at the base of the plant. Garden Use & Maintenance: Clumping, perennial warm season grass. https://www.gardenstylesanantonio.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/1540213995little-bluestem-Schizachyrium-scoparium-detail-Attwater-prairie-july-2017-brad-wier.jpg, Hit the Snooze Button on your Irrigation Controller. Flowers in mid to late summer; heads are tufted racemes. scoparium – little bluestem Subordinate Taxa This plant has no children Legal Status Wetland Status Interpreting Wetland Status Related Links More Accounts and … Height: 3-5 ft.. Bloom Period: August - October. Caterpillars of the following Skipper butterflies all feed on Little Bluestem Foliage; 1. Little bluestem is one of the best grasses for nesting and roosting habitat. Schizachyrium scoparium 'Little Bluestem' Add To Cart Add to Favorites We currently do not deliver to your area at this time, please contact us to discuss other options. Maryland Distribution: Dry areas with poor soil, sunny meadows, woodland edges. Wild Little Bluestem Seed from Polk County, Minn. A favorite for ornamental and naturalized landscapes. Plant Care. Central Maryland Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium Grass family (Poaceae) Fun Facts: Little Bluestem is the state grass of Kansas.There are also 255,000 seeds per pound. Schizachyrium scoparium (formerly Andropogon scoparius)GraminoidGrass Family. Crossline Skipper 2. Found throughout the lower provinces of Canada and all states of the U.S., except Nevada and Washington. This perennial, bluish-green, warm seasonal grass served as hay for colonists. Tremendous ecotypic variation occurs in this species, and a number of varieties Little bluestem is a tufted, warm-season, perennial grass broadly distributed and native to the U.S. and Canada. Seasons of Interest: Leaves: Summer/Fall/Winter; Bloom: Late Summer/Fall; Fruit/Seed/Nut: Fall/Winter Providing a very long season of interest, Little Bluestem is easy to grow, tolerates heat, drought and humidity. Tolerate of both alkaline and acid soils. Little bluestem grows in a wide range of soil types as long as they are not wet. Use as an ornamental specimen, or for massing, native meadows, erosion control, and as a pasture grass. Contrasts nicely with hard structures (modern architecture, statues). Little Bluestem Grass, Schizachyrium scoparium When I visit large gardens, I am in awe of their beauty—as well as the work that is required to make and keep them gorgeous. The leaves and stems frequently have a bluish cast in summer, while the fall color is a very warm copper that does not fade throughout winter. Little Bluestem Growing Conditions Little Bluestem can grow in almost any soil type that drains. It can be found from Canada to Mexico and from the east coast to the west coas Little Bluestem, Schizachyrium scoparium, is one of the three dominant species that make up … littorale) occurs only in the coastal plain region. We embody the University's land-grant mission with a commitment to eliminate hunger, preserve our natural resources, improve quality of life, and empower the next generation through world-class education. It can grow up to three feet tall and is considered one of the most ornamental of all grasses. The plants are very wildlife-friendly, offering seed and nest sites for meadow and prairie birds. Native Plant Rescue Squad , a nonprofit dedicated to conserving and restoring East Tennessee’s native flora, offers a great selection of plants that would … Little bluestem is a hostplant for several species of insects, especially skipper butterflies. Particularly attractive in fall when the silvery chains of seed emerge, and the whole plant takes on a rusty-brown fall color. Little Bluestem is a highly ornamental native grass prized for its blue-green leaf color and upright form. The clump type of growth habit and many fine leaves at the base provide excellent nesting sites. Schizachyrium is tough and adaptable, tolerant of a range of moisture conditions from average to nearly arid. Little Bluestem This perennial, bluish-green, warm seasonal grass served as hay for colonists. Height: 1.5-3 feetBlooms: Silky seeds emerge in fallSun: Full sunSoil: Dry, poor soil of any texture. Little bluestem is often used in prairie restorations. Beautiful fall color. Ottoe Skipper 5. Description: The common name refers not only to its small stature but also to its bluish-green stem color as it first emerges in the spring.The stems turn an eye-catching coppery-red later in the fall. Numerous birds and small mammals utilize the dried stems for cover and for nesting materials, and the small seeds as a … Sign up to receive special offers, expert advice and tips to transform your yard into a landscape showplace! Good drought tolerance. When the snow melts, the grasses stand upright again. The plant provides cover for ground birds and small mammals. It is very similar to little bluestem but can be distinguished by the bent stems at the base, whereas little bluestem stems are erect. Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium Grass family (Poaceae) Description: This perennial grass is 2-3' tall and densely tufted at the base. Little bluestem is adapted to soils ranging from sandy to clay-loam in texture. Leah finds joy in singing, breaking bread with friends, looking at the beech trees in winter, and studies of plant medicine at Sacred Plant Traditions. Plants can reach heights of up to 4 feet. Little Bluestem Alvar Nature Reserve This 654-acre parcel is owned by the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) and co-managed with the Couchiching Conservancy. Little bluestem has a twisted, bent awn and a single cluster of seeds per branch. Little Bluestem. They establish quickly on disturbed soilsperfect for banks, slopes, and restorations. They do reseed (that's what plants do), but they're beautiful, and support native insects and other wildlife. Garden specimens can be trimmed back in late spring if desired. Little Bluestem is one of the three dominant species that make up our tall and short grass prairies. The foliage provides excellent color all season-long and creates the perfect backgrop for prairie flowers. It will grow on a wide variety of soils but is very well adapted to well-drained, medium to dry, infertile soils. The foliage of this North American prairie native turns striking copper-orange to dark orange-red in the fall and winter, persisting through winter snows. We grow one species of Schizachyrium, the North American native Schizachyrium scoparium, commonly known as Little Bluestem. Habitat: Prairies. It is easy to work with and feels good to touch. Little bluestem is easy to grow in medium to dry soils. Little bluestem is one of the best grasses for nesting and roosting habitat. It has been observed that little bluestem phenology follows a well-defined pattern. Densely mounded, Little Bluestem reaches … Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium Family: (Poaceae) Grasses Habitat: Prairies Height: 3-5 ft. Bloom Period: August - October Description: The common name refers not only to its small stature but also to its bluish-green stem color as it first emerges in the spring. Landscaping: With its blue-green leaves during the growing season and attractive rusty color with white fluffy seed heads in the fall, little bluestem is useful in ornamental plantings. Family: (Poaceae) Grasses. Throughout the state. Little Bluestem is my favorite ornamental grass. The foliage of this natural beauty adds a kaleidoscope of pastel colors in summer and coppery tones in fall. It produces fair forage for livestock and its seed is eaten by songbirds and upland game birds. We Think You'll Really Dig It. In the fall of the year, the entire plant turns a bright copper color that makes it stand out on the tallgrass prairie. Little Bluestem is a very important plant for pollinators in that it is a larval host to over a dozen of insects. When the snow melts, the grasses stand upright again. As we move forward we seek to bring honor and recognition not just to Little Bluestem the grass, but to all community partners, plants, insects, fungi, birds, and … Little Bluestem is an excellent addition to a mixture of plants supportive of wildlife. The “blue” in the name refers to the color of the emerging shoots in the early summer. Little bluestem plant is a native grass to North America. Prefers sun. Poor grazing for wildlife, but may provide nesting sites for ground-nesting birds. It is able to grow on both acidic and alkaline soils. Little bluestem ‘The Blues’ – This grass is an easy addition to provide nesting materials and seeds. REC, Western Maryland Seeds are an important food source for song birds and bobwhite quail. During snow storms the clumps of little bluestem arch over, providing small shelters very popular with song sparrows, white-throated sparrows, and other overwintering birds. 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