Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Little Bluestem blooms from August through September.
Mature size, hardiness zones, sun and the trait tags were checked against named botanical sources for this plant. The bloom months and water need on this page were not.
Growing Little Bluestem
Plant it in full sun. It prefers low water. It is hardy in USDA zones 3–9. Expect it to reach about 3.3 ft tall and 1.3 ft wide at maturity, in roughly 2 years.
When to plant Little Bluestem
Plant Little Bluestem in early spring as soon as the soil is workable, or in early fall at least six weeks before your first frost, so roots establish in cool weather. For the middle of its hardy zones 3 to 9 range, spring means March to May and fall means August or September. Once settled, it blooms from August to September.
Month-by-month timing for your zone is on the planting calendar: for the middle of its range, start with zone 6 in March.
Comes in 2 varieties
Same plant, same care - pick the variety you are growing.
Good to know about Little Bluestem
Curated from university extensions, botanic gardens and other primary sources, with the source named on every note.
Worth knowing
Rich soil, extra water, feeding, or shade all make it grow tall and flop over at the base. Keep it lean, dry, and sunny to stay upright. per North Carolina State
Deer resistance depends on setting
NC State and Maryland rate it deer-resistant to deer-proof, but Wisconsin and the Forest Service say deer and rabbits readily graze young growth where pressure is high. per Wisconsin and USDA
Color in every season
Fine blue-green to silvery-blue summer foliage turns coppery mahogany-red to orange-bronze in fall, then holds a tan-russet color with silvery seed heads all winter. per North Carolina State
Host to skipper butterflies
It is a larval host for numerous skipper butterflies (Xerces names 9 species) plus the common wood-nymph, and its clump base shelters overwintering bumble bee queens. per Xerces
Warm-season grass, slow spring
A warm-season C4 grass: slow to emerge in spring, it makes most of its growth through summer heat, so a slow spring start is normal, not failure. per Wisconsin
When to cut back
Leave it standing through winter for color and cover, then cut the clump to about 2 to 4 in above the ground in late winter or early spring. per Wisconsin
What pairs well with Little Bluestem
Good companions share its growing conditions and add something it lacks: an earlier or later bloom, a lower carpet in front, or structure through winter.
Thyme
Shares full sun and low water; blooms in late spring, before this one opens; low at 6 in, to carpet the ground beneath.
Crocus
Shares full sun and low water; blooms in late winter, extending the bed's season; low at 4 in, to carpet the ground beneath; purple against orange, for contrast.
Creeping Phlox
Shares full sun and low water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; low at 6 in, to carpet the ground beneath; both are native plants.
Grape Hyacinth
Shares full sun and low water; blooms in early spring, before this one opens; lower at 8 in, for the front of the border; blue against orange, for contrast.
Basket of Gold
Shares full sun and low water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; lower at 8 in, for the front of the border.
California Poppy
Shares full sun and low water; opens in late spring and overlaps into this one's season; lower at 12 in, for the front of the border; both are native plants.
Bachelor's Button
Shares full sun and low water; blooms in late spring, before this one opens; lower at 2.3 ft, for the front of the border; blue against orange, for contrast.
Perennial Salvia
Shares full sun and low water; blooms in late spring, before this one opens; lower at 2 ft, for the front of the border; blue against orange, for contrast.
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