Melinda Myers

Little Bluestem

Botanical Name

Schizachyrium scoparium

Min Zone

3

Max Zone

9

Height

to to 4 feet

Width

18 to 24 inches

Flowers

Late summer to early fall: pinkish white

Fall Color

Orange to bronze to reddish

Light

Full sun

Soil

Dry to medium, well-drained

Planting & Care

• Space plants 2 feet apart
• Avoid over-fertilizing, plants tend to flop over when they receive excessive nitrogen or are grown in nutrient-rich soils
• Poor growth in wet, poorly drained soils

Problems

None serious

Varieties

• Blaze - 2 to 3 feet tall, upright form, blue-green foliage has red, mixed with purple and orange fall color
• Blue Heaven - 4 feet tall, steel blue leaves change to burgundy, pink and orange in fall
• Carousel - Compact 36 inches tall, blue green foliage turns a mix of mahogany, copper and pink in fall
• Jazz - 3 feet tall, purple fall color
• Prairie Blues - 3 feet tall, blue-gray foliage turns red-orange in fall
• The Blues - 3 feet tall, blue foliage has red accents, fall color is a mix of purple, orange and blue