Schizachyrium scoparium

Schizachyrium scoparium

Common name: Little Bluestem

Description: This outstanding native American ornamental grass offers exceptional multi-season colour and texture. The fine, upright blue-green foliage forms attractive clumps throughout summer, creating soft vertical accents in borders or naturalistic plantings. In late summer, delicate fluffy flower plumes emerge in shades of silvery-white, adding airy texture to the display. As autumn approaches, the entire plant transforms into brilliant shades of orange, red, copper, and burgundy, creating one of the most spectacular autumn displays of any ornamental grass. The colourful stems and seed heads persist through winter, providing valuable structure and continued interest whilst catching frost and low winter light beautifully. Little bluestem is perfect for prairie-style plantings, gravel gardens, or mixed borders where its changing colours create year-round drama.

Other benefits: spectacular autumn and winter colour, architectural seed heads, drought tolerant, low maintenance, excellent for naturalistic plantings, provides winter structure and interest

Wildlife attraction: seed heads provide food for birds, shelter for beneficial insects, butterflies

Height & spread (approx.) at 10 years: 0.8m x 0.5m (foliage); flower stems to 1m

Position: full sun essential for best colour and flowering

Soil pH: adaptable; grows well in neutral to slightly acidic soils; tolerates poor soils

Moisture: minimal watering once established; highly drought tolerant; requires well-drained soil, especially in winter

Winter hardiness: fully hardy to -30°C and below