Common Name
Little bluestem
Prairie beardgrass
Prairie beard ggass
Scientific Name
Schizachyrium scoparium
Ground Cover
No
Evergreen
No
Plant Form
Grasses, Sedges & Rushes
Max Height (ft)
4.0
Growth Rate
Medium
Hardiness Zone
5
6
7
8
9
Region
Coastal
Piedmont
Mountain
Schizachyrium scoparium.jpg
Schizachyrium scoparium 2.jpg
Additional Info
Habitat: open woods, pinelands and dry clearings
Wildlife value: Provides excellent cover year round. This is a larval host plant that supports various skipper larvae and Common Wood-Nymph. Seeds are eaten by songbirds and small mammals
Notes: Tolerates poor soil. Clump grass. Short screen. Cut it back to the ground in late winter or early spring to promote new, attractive growth, and keep mulch away from the crown. Propagate it by seed.
Light Requirements
Full sun
Partial sun
Shade
Moisture Requirements
Moist
Dry
Soil Texture
Clay
Loamy
Sandy
Shallow rocky
Grassland Species
Yes
Riparian Buffer Species?
No
Flower Color
Purple/lavender
Bloom Time
Early Summer
Late Summer
Fall
Bloom Month
June
July
August
September
October
Fall Color
Gold/Yellow
Orange
Deer Resitant
Yes
Low Maintenance
Yes
Climate-smart plant
Yes
Good Choice for Public Spaces
Yes
Seed or Fruit eaten by wildlife?
Yes
Supports Pollinators
No