Prairie Beard Grass Schizachyrium scoparium
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Andropogon scoparius
- Phonetic Spelling
- ski-za-KRY-ee-um sko-PAIR-ee-um
- Description
-
Little bluestem is a perennial, ornamental, warm season grass in the Poaceae (grass) family with attractive foliage. It is native to eastern North America and is found naturally in a wide range of moist to dry habitats. The narrow erect clumps may grow to 2 to 4 feet tall with an equal spread.
It performs best in average, dry to medium-moist, well-drained soil in full sun. It tolerates a wide range of soil conditions including infertility and clay. Once established, it has excellent drought resistance. It is well-adapted to southern climates as it tolerates high heat, humidity, and salt. 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.
The leaves and stems of this grass frequently have a bluish cast in summer, while the fall color is a very warm copper that does not fade throughout winter. Purplish bronze seed heads and yellow-orange leaves make for great fall interest in the landscape. It is highly resistant to browsing by deer.
As well as providing year-round cover for wildlife, little bluestem is a larval host plant to various butterflies and moths making it a great choice for a pollinator garden. The feathery, fine blue-green leaves are attractive in a mass planting in a rain, cottage, coastal, or low water use garden. They adapt well to container plantings or can be used in borders or meadows.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
VIDEO: Part of the Native Plant Picks series from the North Carolina Sea Grant-led Coastal Landscapes Initiative.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Courtyard Entrance Garden Extension Master Gardener℠ Demonstration Garden, Durham Co.
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Blaze'
- 'Blue Heaven'
Taller more upright foliage. Leaves are brighter steel blue color with purple highlights - 'Carousel'
- 'Prairie Blues'
- 'Standing Ovation'
Wide blue leaves red tips. Fall color red/maroon. - 'The Blues'
Blue foliage and red stems - 'Twilight Zone'
Purplish leaves
- 'Blaze'
- 'Blaze', 'Blue Heaven', 'Carousel', 'Prairie Blues', 'Standing Ovation', 'The Blues', 'Twilight Zone'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Blaze'
- 'Blue Heaven'
Taller more upright foliage. Leaves are brighter steel blue color with purple highlights - 'Carousel'
- 'Prairie Blues'
- 'Standing Ovation'
Wide blue leaves red tips. Fall color red/maroon. - 'The Blues'
Blue foliage and red stems - 'Twilight Zone'
Purplish leaves
- 'Blaze'
- 'Blaze', 'Blue Heaven', 'Carousel', 'Prairie Blues', 'Standing Ovation', 'The Blues', 'Twilight Zone'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Schizachyrium
- Species:
- scoparium
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern North America
- Wildlife Value:
- Provides excellent cover year round. This is a larval host plant that supports various skipper larvae and Common Wood-Nymph (Cercyonis pegala) which have one brood from late May to October. Adult Common Wood-Nymph butterflies feed on rotting fruit and flower nectar. Seeds are eaten by songbirds and small mammals.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer resistance is high.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Purple/Lavender
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Description:
- Purple-bronze seed heads give excellent fall and winter interest. Fruits are available July-November.
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-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Description:
- Purple-bronze racemes form above the clump of leaves and appear in August. Blooms from June-October.
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-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Orange
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Leaf Type:
- Sheath
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Other/more complex
- Leaf Shape:
- Filiform
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Flat linaer leaves 1/4" wide form attractive clumps of light blue at the base turn orange-yellow in fall and persist into winter giving intrest to the landscape.
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-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Meadow
- Pond
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Deer
- Diseases
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Heat
- Humidity
- Insect Pests
- Pollution
