Location of Schizachyrium scoparium (syn. Hardy To Zone: 1? Bronze flowers bloom in 3 inch long racemes on stems that rise above the plant in August. Little bluestem has high genetic diversity. Enjoy this grass through the winter; prune back in the early spring. Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium Grass family (Poaceae) Description: This perennial grass is 2-3' tall and densely tufted at the base. Schizachyrium scoparium 'Prairie Blues' - Little Bluestem Prairie Blues. Too much moisture or too fertile a soil will cause flowers to flop, creating a messy look. Season of Interest: Winter (Nov - Mar) Main Color: Blue, Green. Plants have attractive fine textured steely blue foliage and rosy pink stems. Click below on a thumbnail map or name for subspecies profiles. Andropogon scoparius) (Little bluestem) at the Arboretum Hardiness Zones. Willowy pink fronds are followed by silvery white seed heads which may persist into early winter. 'Blue Paradise' is a great native grass for adding height to narrow spaces. It can also be used as a border and in a prairie garden. Plants should be cut back in the spring to make way for new growth. Little Bluestem. Foliage grows 2 feet in height and 3 feet when in bloom. In late summer small flowers are held on branched stems above the leaves. Native Introduced Native and Introduced. The foliage turns a striking red-orange in the fall, excellent in massed plantings or mixed with other native grasses and wildflowers. This native prairie grass is essential for the habitat garden providing seeds for birds and the leaves are food plants for various butterfly species. Schizachyrium The Blues - Common name:Little Bluestem, Bluestem - Deep rose-color on base of stems blush the narrow metallic blue leaves that mature to a good copper fall color. Little bluestem plant is a native grass to North America. The Blues Little Bluestem is one of the easiest ornamental grasses to grow, as it tolerates a wide range of soil conditions and is hardy in zones 3-9. A myriad of blue-, green- and purple-colored foliage creates kaleidoscopes throughout spring and summer, and fall brings reds, coppers, and orange hues. continued growth of seedling little bluestem plants (USDA, 1983) during the winter months. In fall the foliage changes from blue to burgundy and really makes a statement! Little bluestem is a native prairie grass that is exceptional for site adaptability, addition of color to the landscape, and for its cold hardiness. During it's active growth period in summer, it has gorgeous, bright blue leaves. In late summer inconspicuous flowers are held on branched stems above the leaves. Blue-green foliage meets a dense, clumping habit, making the Blues Little Bluestem the perfect ornamental for elevating your landscape. Flat foliage is blue throughout most of the growing season before changing a reddish-purple in the fall. As its name suggests, this perennial has silvery-blue stems (particularly at the base) and leaves, making it … Little Bluestem, The Blues . Beautiful blue foliage takes on striking hues of purple and orange throughout the fall. Foliage turns to a beautiful dusky purple in fall, then to a deep gold in winter. Cut back old stems to 2-3” above ground-level in mid-spring. The indian red seed heads are carried on showy plumes displayed in abundance from early fall to late winter. The foliage of this North American prairie native turns striking copper-orange to dark orange-red in the fall and winter, persisting through winter snows. Also could be an addition to a cedar barren. Its attractive grassy leaves are powder blue in color. The Blues Bluestem is primarily grown for its highly ornamental fruit. FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Schizachyrium scoparium is a mounding grass with narrow green or blue-green foliage. The foliage turns red during the fall and remains so all winter. 'The Blues' is an excellent ornamental grass for xeric gardens that mixes beautifully with colorful native perennials. Other Names: Little Bluestem. Nash – little bluestem Subordinate Taxa. CHECK AVAILABILITY. It has a pleasing, upright habit and pretty, fluffy seedheads in fall. FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Schizachyrium scoparium ‘The Blues’ is a lovely upright blue tinted Little Bluestem cultivar. Prairie Blues Little Bluestem typically grows 4 feet tall in slender clumps. These flowers are followed by seed heads which are fluffy and silver. Specifications. This is a plant that is not only beautiful virtually all year, but is truly a low maintenance plant. Valuable plant for meadow and prairie gardens. The blue grassy foliage is appealing all season, and only gets better in fall. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (and enforced by the Colorado Department of Agriculture) has mandated that all nursery containers be called by a name that accurately denotes the … Flowers in late summer with very erect fine textured needle-like pikes. Noted for its striking reddish-tan foliage, Schizachyrium scoparium (Little Bluestem) is a densely-tufted, deciduous, perennial grass forming an upright clump of fine-textured, slender, arching, blue-green leaves. Description Product Description. In shortgrass prairies, it is often the dominant species along with Side-oats Grama. Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium 'The Blues' This is an excellent native grass for the garden. Deer, Drought, Erosion, Dry Soil, Shallow-Rocky Soil, Black Walnut, Air Pollution tolerant. Noteworthy Characteristics. Native Environment: Prairie. Fine leaf blades shine with a more intense blue color than most of the species, and late summer brings slender deep-purple plumes atop the foliage for an added layer of color. It is a prolific self-seeder and can become invasive with little bluestem in lawns a major competitor to traditional turf grass. Little bluestem is easy to grow in medium to dry soils. Thrives in summer heat and humidity. The plants are an excellent, medium-height grass for smaller gardens and look excellent with Purple Coneflower, Bee … Schizachyrium scoparium. Little Bluestem 'The Blues' Bloom: Bronze to purple, August - October, good fall color. The Plants Database includes the following 3 subspecies of Schizachyrium scoparium . It is an upright, clump-forming grass with slender, blue-green leaves. Little bluestem, Schizachyrium scoparium, is a North American prairie native found throughout the 48 contiguous states, except for the far western, coastal areas. Outstanding eastern native meadow species. 'Prairie Blues' is an exceptional variety of native Little Bluestem Grass, selected for its vibrant color and compact growth. It is a bunch type, native, warm-season, perennial mid grass, with a dense root system, and may reach heights of from 2 to 4 feet tall. The culms are tan or reddish brown, hairless, and terete; the base of each culm is erect, rather than decumbent across the ground. In fall plants turn a showy coppery orange overall. The blues little bluestem is a very drought-tolerant, native grass grown for its ornamental characteristics. Ornamental Features. Little Bluestem is an iconic warm season grass of the prairie habitat that is commonly used in both landscaping and restoration projects. The Blue Little Bluestem is a silvery blue grass that turns burgundy-red in the fall. Fall Color: Hardy From Zone: 1. The Bluestem lives up to its name, delivering unmatched color and floral spikes with fluffy seed heads that last until fall. Good for use in a rain garden around edges. In tallgrass prairies, companion grasses include Big Bluestem, Indian Grass, and Switch Grass. Gray blue foliage turns bronze-orange in the fall. Little Bluestem is a perennial, warm-season grass that may grow to 5 feet. Fluffy light catching seed clusters follow. Seasons of Interest: Leaves: Summer/Fall/Winter; Bloom: Late Summer/Fall; Fruit/Seed/Nut: Fall/Winter Plant Type: Grasses / Sedges / Rushes. Clumping plants produce half-inch wide leaves on upright stems in a unique light blue coloring. Little Bluestem Growing and Maintenance Tips. Native to North America. Little bluestem. https://www.luriegarden.org/plants/little-bluestem-the-blues The Blues Little Bluestem General Information. Little Bluestem grows well on a variety of soil types, including Deep, shallow, sandy, fine textured, and rocky soils. The Blues (Schizachyrium scoparium 'The Blues'): 3 feet tall with an upright habit; blue foliage with red accents on stem; fall color is a mix of blue, purple and orange. This forms an upright clump of blue-grey foliage, bearing narrow, medium-tall spikes in l... Plant Profile for Schizachyrium scoparium ‘The Blues’ - Little Bluestem Perennial Search Little Bluestem – The Blues 1g (Schizachyrium scoparium ‘The Blues’) Category: Grasses. Grows best in an average well-drained soil, in full sun, tolerating drought once established. Schizachyrium scoparium var. aka Andropogon scoparius. Vital species for reclamation and conservation. Other Names: Little Bluestem Ornamental Features. CHECK AVAILABILITY. Divide every third year. It is found in many types of soil but is particularly adapted to well-drained, nearly infertile soil which makes it an excellent erosion barrier. Grasses, Ornamental; A Note About Pot Sizes. The Blues Bluestem is primarily grown for its highly ornamental fruit. The indian red seed heads are carried on showy plumes displayed in abundance from early fall to late winter. The Blues Little Bluestem Grass (Schizachyrium) is an outstanding form of native Little Bluestem with cool blue-green leaves in summer. Size: 2' 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. Schizachyrium scoparium 'Prairie Blues' is a seed grown selection of Little Bluestem that has very attractive blue foliage. Schizachyrium scoparium, commonly called little bluestem, is native to prairies, fields, clearings, hills, limestone glades, roadsides, waste areas and open woods from Alberta to Quebec south to Arizona and Florida.It was one of the dominant grasses of the vast tallgrass prairie region which once covered rich and fertile soils in many parts of central North America. 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