Schizachyrium_scoparium ‘StandingOvation’ (photo courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, Landenberg, PA

Little Blustem at Brooklyn Botanical Gardens in NY in October 2014

Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) grows in old fields, meadows and prairies, and along roadsides across the United States and Eastern Canada (USDA hardiness zones 3-8). It forms dense clumps 2- 3 feet tall and 12 -18 inches wide. This warm season grass prefers a well-drained soil and full to part sun site. It looks its best in low nutrient soils; when fertilized or frequently irrigated, clumps tend to flop over. It grows easily from seed. It is very drought tolerant and survives over many years. A new seeding of little bluestem will be very small its first year as this native grass puts much of its energy into growing roots first.‘Standing Ovation’ is an outstanding vegetatively propagated cultivar introduced by North Creek Nursery in Landenberg, PA.  It maintains a tight, upright habit throughout the entire season. Sturdy erect stems start out with a bluish cast; grass blades and stems turn fiery shades of yellow, orange, brown, red and purple in fall and winter.

Gardeners and landscapers should take advantage of its strong vertical presence of this unique cultivar. It grows 3-4 feet tall and only 6-12 inches wide. Leaf blades tend to be thicker than on other bluestem; disease and insect problems are rare and usually caused by poor site selection.

Plant little bluestems to edge a garden path, driveway or sunny flower border to catch textural contrasts. Little bluestem is highly deer-resistant. Several species of skipper butterfly caterpillars feed on the leaves and birds use it for cover and for nesting material.