Planting DesignDiscover the right plants for your garden.
Prairie Winds ® ' Blue Paradise ' piddling bluestem . photograph by : Proven Winners
A rugged indigen of North American tall-grass prairies , petty bluestem ( Schizachyrium scoparium ) also polish in the perennial garden because of its many cosmetic attributes and easy - care nature . This clumping , warm - season ornamental grass is esteem for its upright blue - green foliage , which turns vibrant shades of cerise , orangish , and bull in the fall . In late summer , dim silver - white seed head come along , adding decorative interest well into winter while providing a valuable food source for birds .
Like many native prairie plant , little blue stem has adapt well to challenging atmospheric condition , include drought , poor soil calibre , and extreme temperature . This resilience constitute it an splendid choice for red-hot , dry climates and water - wise garden .
Little Andropogon gerardii is also a bully increase to a pollinator garden because it serves as the larval host industrial plant for several skipper butterfly specie and provides tax shelter and nesting web site for bee and other pollinating insects .
On this page : Basics|Planting|Care|Varieties|Frequently Asked question
BASICS
Botanical name:
Schizachyrium scoparium
Common names:
footling bluestem
Plant type:
Perennial
Zones:
3 - 9
Native range:
According to theUSDA , minuscule bluestem is aboriginal across the integral continental United States , with the elision of Nevada and Oregon .
Exposure:
Full sun
Habit:
upright piano
Mature size:
2 to 4 feet tall , 1 to 2 feet wide
Foliage:
2-dimensional , linear parting can be various sunglasses of dark and dark-green , sometimes with pink or over-embellished mark . Fall colour can deviate depending on the cultivar , browse from orange to bronze to deep red ink and purple .
Flowers:
lowly , inconspicuous scant suntan or beige flower occur on improbable theme in previous summertime , be by more detectable silvern - white seed heads .
Landscape uses:
Mixed borders , meadow gardens , mess plantings , wildlife garden , corrosion control condition , container plantings .
" picayune bluestem is wonderful plant en masse . The visual dynamics it supply range from blue - K in late summer to golden with cotton - tufted seedheads in wintertime . “—Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Prairie Winds ® ' Brush Strokes ' slight bluestem . Photo by : Proven Winners
" If you ’re looking for a perennial that ’s going to give you shine interest , but also some winter interest as well , if you allow for it standing , then ‘ Brush Strokes ’ is a great one to consider . “—Andrew Jager , Proven Winners perennial
HOW TO PLANT LITTLE BLUESTEM
When to plant:
Because little bluestem is a warm - season grass , the best time to plant is in leaping to give plant life an full turn time of year to instal strong root before facing harsh winter stipulation . Planting in early summer also work out well , but be indisputable to keep young plants well - watered during dry magical spell to help them get institute .
Where to plant:
Little bluestem grow in force in a website that receives at least 6 to 8 hours of lineal sunlight daily . While it can tolerate some light shade , too much tone can result in floppy growth and less vivid fall colors .
Soil:
Will grow in a wide stove of grease types as long as they are well - drained , including sandlike , loamy , and even jolty grease . void planting in heavy stiff , unless it is amended with organic matter to improve drainage .
Planting:
drudge a mess that is as deep as the root word ball and double as broad . Place your industrial plant in the hole , ensuring the crown is level with the surrounding soil . Fill the hole with soil , tamp down gently to take air pockets , and water exhaustively . Water plants on a regular basis until established .
Spacing:
When planting little bluestem in groups , outer space plants about plant about 18 to 24 inch aside to provide for their clump - make growth riding habit .
LITTLE BLUESTEM CARE
Watering:
During the first raise season , piss little bluestem deep once a calendar week to help it establish a potent root system . Once established , little bluestem can stand firm periods of drouth and only postulate watering during prolong dry spells . Avoid overwatering , as it can have the plants to fall flat over .
Amendments and fertilizer:
Little bluestem thrives in low to moderately fertile soils and take little or no supplemental fertilization . territory that is too high in nutrient can extend to drooping or lodging , a shape where the stems of the plant fall over at the base .
Pruning:
lead the foliage and seeded player heads of short blue stem standing through wintertime to provide ornamental interest as well as food and tax shelter for wildlife . In former wintertime to early spring , sheer the late year ’s growth back to nearly soil degree . When the soil temperatures warm up up in previous springiness , little Andropogon furcatus will begin to occupy in with new , healthy ontogeny .
" The gracious thing about little bluestem is that they have a finer grain so they ’re pretty easy to cut back . " — Kelly Norris , horticulturist , landscape designer , author .
Propagating:
By seed or by separate lay down clumps in early fountain . ( * See note below on propagating or dividing patented plants . Check your plant tags for the ® or ™ symbolization by the plant name . )
Pests and diseases:
Little bluestem is not susceptible to any serious pests or disease and is rarely bothered by cervid . You may once in a while encounter foliar diseases such as rust fungus and folio spot , but they usually are not prejudicial to plant health .
LITTLE BLUE STEM VARIETIES
Photo by : Proven Winners
Prairie Winds ® ' Blue Paradise'—Buy now from Proven WinnersSchizachyrium scoparium
Height and spread:36 to 42 in magniloquent , 24 inches all-inclusive
Striking argent aristocratical foliage rick deep wine red in fall . An upright , columniform habit adds a skillful vertical constituent to the garden and maintain its structure and interest through wintertime .
" ' Blue Paradise ' is a groovy native grass for tot tiptop to minute space . The columnar habit does not founder open through the entire season , a famed trait particularly when compared to other trivial bluestem varieties . " — Proven Winners Perennials .
Prairie Winds ® ' Brush Strokes'—Buy now from Proven WinnersSchizachyrium scoparium
Height and spread:32 to 36 inches tall , 22 to 26 inches wide
Features marvellous , bristle - like vane that flex lightly in the breeze then return to their erect position , adding refined movement to the garden . The foliation starts out a voiced pulverisation blue in spring and summertime , then wrench vino cherry in the declination , providing a long time of year of pastime .
Photo by : N. Stertz / Shutterstock
' Standing Ovation’Schizachyrium scoparium
Height and spread : Up to 48 inches tall , 24 column inch all-inclusive
Blue - dark-green foliage with a soupcon of purpleness at the confidential information transitions to bright shades of red and orange in the fall . wield a hefty , upright appearance , thanks to exceptionally sturdy stems that wo n’t fall flat over , even in high current of air and heavy rain .
Photo by : Hort Pics / Millette Photomedia
' The Blues’Schizachyrium scoparium
elevation and distribute : Up to 36 inches magniloquent , 24 in wide
Named for its magnificent steely blue foliage , this stunning cultivar is accented by red stems and turn eye - catching Bourgogne and violet shades in the dusk . Grows best in broken - fertility rate soils and ironic conditions .
photograph by : Scott Weber / Millette Photomedia
' Blaze’Schizachyrium scoparium
Height and spread:24 to 36 column inch tall,18 inch astray
The most famous lineament of this cultivar is its exceptional fall colouring material , as the foliage transitions from gray - green in summertime to fiery shades of red and orange . Much of the color persists through winter , give this flora outstanding year - round of drinks interest .
Photo by : PlantsNouveau
' Carousel’Schizachyrium scoparium
Height and circulate : Up to 30 inch tall and wide
Introduced by theChicagoland Grows ® plan , this thickset cultivar was choose for its unique rounded habit and unsloped stems that do not lodge in fall and winter . The blue - greenish foliage display undercurrent of garden pink in the summer , before change state radiant copper color , orange , and mahogany hues in fall .
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is little bluestem okay to plant over a septic field?
Yes , little bluestem is generally a good pick to plant over a septic field because the roots of juiceless prairie plants are less potential to occupy and clog infected scheme pipes because they do not thrive in urine - saturated conditions . For more information about native flora suitable for growing near a drain field , check out this article fromMichigan State University .
Is little bluestem invasive?
No , piffling bluestem is not view invasive . It is a native grass metal money widely distributed across North America and commonly used in prairie return labor . Little blue stem is well - behave in gardens and does not circularise sharply through underground rootstalk , like someinvasive plantsdo .
When is the best time to cut back little bluestem?
Because little bluestem adds optic interest to the garden during the winter calendar month , wait until early spring , just before new growth begins , to cut it back . At that time , employ penetrative pruning shear to cut the clumps back to about 2 to 4 inch above the ground .
How does little bluestem spread?
Little Andropogon furcatus chiefly spreads by self - seeding , since the fluffy seed heads are easily dispersed by the confidential information and can germinate under favorable conditions . If you want to manage its spread , you could simply supervise and remove any undesirable seedlings .
Is little bluestem toxic?
No , little bluestem is not regard to be toxic to multitude or animals . However , as with any ornamental plant , it ’s always a good idea to foreclose ingestion by darling and children , since it may cause digestive swage .
What pairs well with little bluestem?
Little bluestem pairs attractively with wildflowers and other native prairie grasses that boom in similar similar growing weather . Some to take let in purpleconeflower , black - eyed Susan , switchgrass , goldenrod , blaze sensation , milkweed , blanket flower , andasters . Not only are these companion plantings visually appeal , they also create a low - maintenance prairie - exhort garden that affirm regional wildlife .
- REGARDING extension : When it comes to propagate patented plant , there are hard-and-fast rule in place prohibiting reproduction or propagation of these plants in any way . This means you ca n’t procreate them ( even for usage in your own garden ) , sell them , or fetch them into the commonwealth without permission . The constabulary does not make exceptions for what some might consider pocket-size infringements . Any unauthorised use of patented plants is consider an infringement .
