Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
Height: 2 to 4 feet
Spread: 1.5 to 2 feet
Type: Native Grass
Sun: Full sun
Bloom Time: August to February
Bloom Description: Purplish Bronze
Water: Dry to Medium
Suggested Use: Naturalize, Winter Interest
Attracts: Birds
Tolerate: Deer, Drought and Black Walnut
Native to: Jefferson County
If you want to sip a cocktail and listen to Linda Ronstadt's version of Blue Bayou but don’t want to deal with the brackish water, plant Little Bluestem and you can get the same affect.
Little Bluestem is a native to Jefferson County, but was one of the dominant species of grasses in the Great Plains. The roots are long and great for stabilization and making sod houses. Little Bluestem’s common name derives from the bluish color of the stem bases in the spring. The feathery, fine blue-green leaves are attractive in a mass planting. However, one of Little Bluestem’s most exquisite features is the reddish-tan color in fall, persisting through winter snows. The seeds mature to a fuzzy white appearance giving nice pops of color and texture to the landscape.
It is highly resistant to damage and browsing by deer. It is a great species for the wildlife minded as it provides year-round cover for wildlife and is a larval host plant to various butterflies and moths making it a great choice for a pollinator garden. The seeds are highly prized by a large variety of birds from warblers and goldfinch to quail and grouse.■
