Prairie Beard Grass Schizachyrium scoparium
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ski-za-KRY-ee-um sko-PAIR-ee-um
- Description
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A native ornamental grass with attractive blue-green foliage in the Poaceae family. Purplish bronze seed heads and yellow-orange leaves make for great fall interest in the landscape. It is attractive planted en masse and would make an excellent addition to a rain garden. It performs best in average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun. However, it does tolerate a wide range of soil conditions including infertility and clay. It has drought resistance once established. It is well-adapted to southern climates as it tolerates high heat and humidity. Cut back to the ground in early spring to promote new attractive growth.
Little Bluestem is a perennial, warm-season grass that may grow to 5 feet. The leaves and stems frequently have a bluish cast in summer, while the fall color is a very warm copper that does not fade throughout winter.
Seasons of Interest:
Leaves: Summer/Fall/Winter; Bloom: Late Summer/Fall; Fruit/Seed/Nut: Fall/Winter
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: This plant suffers from too much mulch near the crown.
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Schizachyrium
- Species:
- scoparium
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern North America
- Wildlife Value:
- Provides excellent cover year round. Host plant for Common Wood-Nymph and various skipper species of butterfly. 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. - 5 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Ornamental Grass
- Perennial
- 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)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- 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
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Purple/Lavender
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Description:
- Purple-bronze seed heads give excellent fall and winter interest.
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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 in late summer and fall.
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Leaves:
- 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
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Heat
- Humidity
- Pollution
