Little Bluestem

Little Bluestem

Schizachyrium scoparium

Family- Grass

Central Texas Ecoregions- Blackland Prairie, Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau

Light Requirements- Sun, Part Shade

Wildlife Benefit- Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Mammals

Larval Host- Ottoe Skipper, Indian Skipper, Crossline Skipper, Dusted Skipper, Cobweb butterfly, Dixie skipper

Bloom Time- July-November

Leaf Retention- Deciduous

Life Span- Perennial 

Height- 2’-4’

Width- 1.5’-2’

Native Habitat- Grassland, Woodland, Woodland Edge

Additional Information- One of the important grasses of the American Tall Grass Prairie. You can bring a little prairie home because Little Bluestem makes a great ornamental clumping grass in the landscape. The white seed heads are a wonderful food source for birds. It’s also the larval host for many different skipper species so it’s a neat grass to add to a butterfly garden. The grass blades are blue-green and turn a lovely rusty reddish-brown color with white puffy seed heads in the fall providing seasonal interest. If you can wait to prune back till early Spring it makes a great bird feeder throughout the winter.

Biodegradable Pots

Whenever possible KNP uses biodegradable pots. They are a great alternative to plastic pots.  The biodegradable pots can be planted directly into the ground, this reduces transplant shock which makes for happy plants!

Biodegradable Pot Size Information

Small- 4” Wide Top, 2.5” Wide Base, 3.75” Tall (Similar to Standard 4” Pot)

Medium- 5.25” Wide Top, 3.25” Wide Base, 5” Tall

Large- 7" Wide Top, 4.5" Wide Base, 6.125" Tall (Similar to Gallon Size Pot)