The sheath is open, forming a long “V” at the front, and usually hairless. Regarding reuse of photos from this site: Any plant photo with a credit line including the words “Friends School Plant Sale photo” may be used with credit to the Friends School Plant Sale and named photographer, under the Creative Commons license. Plant little bluestem grass in full sun in USDA zones 3 to 9. Plants grow in large, tight clumps and sometimes spread through short rhizomes. Individual Perennial Species. It provides interest when planted in random patches on slopes and dry areas associated with post oak and yaupon landscapes, and grows either in full sun or partial shade. MNL Septic Mound Mix $ 35.00 – $ 864.00 Select options. Where in Minnesota? There is s powder blue form being sold in native seed mixes that does not look anything like the wild plants I have seen from MI, WI, or MN. It can even tolerate the partial shade of open woods, as long as the soil is well drained. Photos by K. Chayka taken in Anoka and Ramsey counties. Carousel Little Bluestem Family Poaceae (Grass Family) Origin Schizachyrium scoparium is an important warm-season, clump-forming native prairie grass that is widely distrib-uted throughout the prairies and open woods of North America from Quebec to Alberta, and south to Arizona and Florida. Over 75 choices that will bloom in the second year and for years to come. Very drought tolerant, and while it prefers full sun it will do fine in light shade. The sterile spikelet has a much shorter awn. The grass gets fluffy white seed heads that also adds seasonal interest. For info on subjects other than plant identification (gardening, invasive species control, edible plants, etc. There are at least 3 recognized varieties of Schizachyrium scoparium (sometimes more depending on the reference), though the specific list varies and is apparently not universally accepted due to the wide natural variations of this species. I don't think it should be planted. Plant number: 8.020.250. Read on for little bluestem information so you can decide if this interesting plant is right for your landscape. The lemma (bract at the base of a flower) of the fertile flower has an awn about 5/8 inch long that is slightly twisted and bent near its base. The sheath is open, forming a long “V” at the front, and usually hairless. Shade, excess fertility, and too much moisture will all contribute to lax, floppy growth. 500 Little Bluestem Ornamental Grass Seeds, Schizachyrium scoparium 3.5 out of 5 stars 9 David's Garden Seeds Grass Bluestem Little 7212 (Blue) Non-GMO, Open Pollinated One Ounce Package Grasses are adaptable and can grow in poorer soils better than many other garden plants. Little bluestem is a tidy, finely textured clumping grass with a blue-green summer color. Help support this site ~ Information for sponsor opportunities. Moisture:: Moist or Dry Exposure: Full Sun - Part Shade Blooms: August-September Height: 1-3 feet Description: Little Bluestem is a native perennial prairie grass that was once very common in our historic prairie landscapes. Seed is eaten by various birds, so it is an important winter bird fodder. Leaves are flat or folded lengthwise, green to blue-green, up to 10 inches long and about ¼ inch wide, sometimes finely hairy but usually hairless except for sparse, long spreading hairs near the base. 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. Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium. Other photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk. Your Name: Growing only 2 to 3 feet tall, Little Bluestem works well in natural prairie plantings or grouped with other perennials. and alpine laurel Kalmia microphylla are all showy and do well in partial shade. Personally, I do not not think it is a wild form but a selection from some nursery-grown crops. Little Bluestem. Schizachyrium scoparium. The culm (stem) is erect and hairless with many short branches and is often bluish to purple. Posted by SongofJoy (Clarksville, TN - Zone 6b) on Jan 15, 2012 8:07 AM. Partial shade (afternoon sun) is tolerated, but flowering may be diminished. Sprite' tender perennial well-drained full sun to part shade These fragrant and floriferous herbs bloom all summer until freeze and attract a wide array of pollinators from bees to ... An upright silvery blue-leaved little bluestem that turns deep wine red/purple in the fall. (=Andropogon scoparium) A recent selection of a native grass, which used to be widely distributed all over the Great Plains. USDA Zone: 4-9. Little Bluestem: USDA Zone: 3-9: Plant number: 8.316.930 (=Andropogon scoparium) A native grass, which used to be widely distributed all over the Great Plains. Order Quantity: Clear: Little Bluestem quantity ... prefers dry to mesic soils and can handle full sun to part shade conditions. ), please check the links and invasive species pages for additional resources. The wild form here and there along Old Highway 61. In fall the foliage changes from blue to burgundy and really makes a statement! Description Semi-shade tolerant to full sun. If you have space for more shrubs, red flowering currant Ribes sanguineum, the silk tassel bush (Garrya ssp.) Your email address: (required) It also is slower to respond to shortening daylight hours in late summer. 24-36" tall x 15" wide (seed propagated). Life Cycle. In a garden setting, Little Bluestem is valued for its blue-green color in the summer and, after the first frost, it turns beautiful shades of brown, copper, and crimson that will remain all winter. Sometimes, it can be a little tough to grow certain plants that require plenty of sunshine and heat to thrive when you are blessed with so much shade. Little Bluestem $ 10.00 – $ 18.00. The plant is adaptable to either full sun or partial shade. Big bluestem grass is hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9. Little Bluestem is a highly ornamental native grass prized for its blue-green leaf color and upright form. The seed that develops in the fertile spikelet is purplish brown, narrowly spindle shaped with a long taper to a pointed tip, and about as long as the spikelet. Excellent in sandy or otherwise well-drained soils, it spreads colonially in the right conditions. See the glossary for icon descriptions. QUICK STATS. Little Bluestem. It requires a soil pH of 7.0 or slightly higher. Densely mounded, Little Bluestem reaches a height of 3 … Map of native plant purveyors in the upper midwest. Grasses/Sedges. Thanks for your understanding. This tough prairie grass is adaptable and tolerant to harsh conditions and poor soils. Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, part shade, sun; average to dry, sandy soil; prairies, dunes, roadsides, railroads, open woods. Little Bluestem. In a garden setting, Little Bluestem is valued for its blue-green color in the summer and, after the first frost, it turns beautiful shades of brown, copper, and crimson that will remain all winter. Stems take on a tan or reddish color in fall and persist through winter. Plant this Little Bluestem in the Blacklands, Edwards Plateau, Cross Timbers, Lost Pines & Rolling Plains to help restore habitat for bobwhite quail, white-tailed deer, rio grande turkey, le conte's sparrow. Individual Annual Species. Above: Little bluestem grass grows wild in Wisconsin. Little bluestem is a tough, easy-care ornamental grass that’s most beautiful in the fall when its tufts of slim, ¼-inch-wide blue-green leaves turn from rust to wine red and its thin 2- to 3-inch clusters of fuzzy flower spikelets glisten silvery-white in the sun. Note: All comments are moderated before posting to keep the riff-raff out. A single spike-like cluster at the tip of each branch and at the top of the stem. Be that as it may, var. This forms an upright clump of blue-grey foliage, bearing narrow, medium-tall spikes in late summer. Learn which ornamental and native grasses have an aggressive habit, which is not recommended for smaller gardens. It also has very nice green, blue, and later red coloring. Tolerates heat and humidity. ‘Carousel’ is an advanced selection developed Little bluestem is considered to be adapted to USDA hardiness zones 3 through 9. Terrific in the border or meadow. Funding provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources. Superb bronzy orange colour develops in the autumn. (They dry well, by the way.) The ligule (membrane where the leaf joins the sheath) is white to brownish and up to 2 mm long. Sandy to loamy soils are ideal for growing big bluestem grass. A cultivar selected by agronomists in NE as a high yielding pasture grass, Schizachyrium scoparium 'Blaze' is also used ornamentally for its vivid red fall foliage. Spikelet stalks are usually densely covered in fine hairs that are initially appressed but spread out as the spikelets mature. This grass requires a location with full sun. Nodes are hairless and purplish. Leaves are crowded on the lower part of the stem with few on the upper plant. Find mixtures for your region, or for special uses such as dry areas, partial shade, attracting animals, low growing, and more. It is taller, stiffer with thick stems, and powder blue leaves. scoparium is one that is widely accepted, common throughout North America, and is the species found in Minnesota. Comment (max 1000 characters): Note: Comments or information about plants outside of Minnesota and neighboring states may not be posted because I’d like to keep the focus of this web site centered on Minnesota. The plant is also aggressive and crowds out other native plants. A warm season bunchgrass with green, blue, copper, red, and bronze tones to its foliage, especially beautiful in fall and winter. The ligule (membrane where the leaf joins the sheath) is white to brownish and up to 2 mm long. See Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The spikelets spread out as they mature, the hairs on the stalks spreading as well, the spike taking on a feathery look and often arching. Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it? It is a prolific self-seeder and can become invasive with little bluestem in lawns a major competitor to traditional turf grass. Related products ; MNL Pioneer Mix $ 30.00 – $ 740.00 Select options. Little bluestem plant is a native grass to North America. Little bluestem tolerates a wide range of soils including clay, but needs good drainage and cannot thrive in shade or wetlands. Little bluestem is a warm-season grass and does not green up right away in the spring. Web design and content copyright © 2006-2020 MinnesotaWildflowers.info. 'Blaze' Little Bluestem grass is invaluable in xeriscapes and native wildflower plantings, plus it has great winter color! A large area of little bluestem in the late fall or winter is very striking. The foliage provides excellent color all season-long and creates the perfect backgrop for prairie flowers. It is characterized by the clump forming growth, most of the stalked spikelets being sterile (not staminate), and leaf blades and sheaths typically hairless, occasionally short-hairy. We have four clumps started from SWCD. Pick an image for a larger view. An email address is required, but will not be posted—it will only be used for information exchange between the 2 of us (if needed) and will never be given to a 3rd party without your express permission. The glumes (pair of bracts at the base of a spikelet) of the fertile spikelet are ¼ to 3/8 inch long and equal in length, narrowly lance-elliptic with a sharply pointed tip. Quick View. Its silvery seed heads rise to a height of nearly 2 feet in late summer and are at their best when backlit in the morning or afternoon sun. Height: 24" - 36" Bloom Time: Aug - Sep Light: Full sun to part shade Soils: Dry, Average Specialty Uses: Medicinal, Landscaping Price(s): Packet: $3.00; Ounce: $4.00; Pound: $15.00; Images: NOTE: This item is sold by the PLS (Pure Live Seed) pound. CHECK AVAILABILITY. Schizachyrium scoparium / Little Bluestem $ 8.00. Bluestem grass is also part of the fertile tall grass prairies of the midwest. This warm-season grass’ native prairie habitat has almost disappeared, but don’t worry. Keep It Alive. At Greenwood Hardware, you will find a variety of plants that will thrive in the shade and brighten up those shady areas. Is adaptable and can not thrive in richer loam soils sun to part shade conditions clumping grass with narrow or. Richer loam soils comments about it comments are moderated before posting to keep the riff-raff.... Features sturdy, tight clumps and sometimes spread through short rhizomes also has nice. 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