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Little bluestem
Schizachyrium
Overview
A quintessential prairie grass that turns brilliant copper, orange, and mahogany in fall, providing some of the most spectacular autumn color of any ornamental grass. Little bluestem's blue-green summer foliage and tidy bunching habit make it one of the most versatile native grasses for home landscapes. Its deep root system makes it extremely drought-tolerant once established.
Mentioned in The Mycelial Grimoire
Posts on the Grimoire that reference Little bluestem.
Growing Conditions
How to Grow Little bluestem
Little bluestem (Schizachyrium) is a graminoid that grows to about 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide.
Little bluestem is hardy across USDA hardiness zones 6–10. Plant it in well-drained, lean to average soil; thrives in poor, dry conditions, at a slightly acidic pH of 5.5–7.5.
Exact sowing, transplanting, and harvest months shift by climate zone — the planting calendar below lays them out for cool through hot regions. Its flowers appear from August through September. The details above are a starting point — your ground will teach you the rest.
Companion Planting & Soil
Little bluestem grows well alongside echinacea, butterfly weed, blazing star, and aster.
Good Companions
Planting Calendar
When to sow, transplant, and harvest by growing zone.
| Zone | Action | Months | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold (1-2) | Transplant | May — Jun | Plant plugs in spring; native bunch grass; brilliant copper-red fall color |
| Cold (1-2) | Bloom | Aug — Sep | Late summer flowers; stunning coppery-orange fall color; fluffy seed heads |
| Cool (3-4) | Transplant | Apr — May | Plant in spring; drought tolerant; full sun; poor to average soil best |
| Cool (3-4) | Bloom | Jul — Sep | Late summer bloom; leave standing all winter for structure |
| Moderate (5-7) | Transplant | Mar — Apr | Plant in spring; signature prairie grass; do not fertilize — rich soil makes it floppy |
| Moderate (5-7) | Bloom | Jul — Sep | Silver seed heads and copper foliage persist through winter |
| Moderate (5-7) | Prune | Mar — Mar | Cut back to 3-4 inches in late winter; do not cut into crown |
| Warm (8-9) | Transplant | Feb — Mar | Plant in late winter/spring |
| Warm (8-9) | Bloom | Jun — Aug | Summer bloom; superb low-maintenance ornamental grass |
| Hot (10+) | Transplant | Feb — Mar | Plant in spring; thrives in heat and drought once established |
| Hot (10+) | Bloom | Jun — Aug | Summer bloom; extremely drought tolerant |
Uses
Beyond the Garden
Little bluestem earns its keep past the plate, too: spectacular fall and winter color in ornamental plantings; prairie restoration and native meadow gardens; erosion control and soil building with deep roots.
