LITTLE BLUESTEM
Schizachyrium scoparium
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Grass Family
(Poaceae) |
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A common plant of mid and tall grass prairie on the Great Plains, little bluestem enters our area in the southern half of the Colorado Plateau. It is a warm-season grass that does best with regular summer watering. It can be used effectively as a mid-height border or specimen plant, or in a mixed planting with summer wildflowers. An especially attractive feature of this plant is its outstanding red fall color. This is especially pronounced in the cultivar 'Blaze', one of several excellent selections developed for this species. Little bluestem also features rich green summer foliage and attractive fluffy seed heads. As mentioned above, it can provide considerable fall and winter interest. It reaches maturity quickly and is long-lived once mature. It has a tendency to self-sow, especially on wetter sites, but the seedlings are not difficult to pull if a more formal look is desired. Little bluestem tolerates a wide range of soil types and is easy to grow.
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 Little Bluestem habit |
 Little Bluestem in garden |
 Little Bluestem late summer |
 Little Bluestem autumn color |
Other names: Andropogon scoparius
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