The Spruce
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Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) Care & Growing Guide
April 25, 2025 - The purplish seed heads, stems, and foliage turn a copper-yellow shade in the fall, meaning it's a great winter-interest ornamental grass. You can plant the seeds in spring or fall, and they establish quickly. Be aware that little bluestem self-seeds freely, so it can become a nuisance in well-manicured landscapes.
Videos
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Little bluestem: easy to grow and feeds the caterpillars! - YouTube
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Ha Ha Tonka / Exciting NEW Little Bluestem Grass that Positively ...
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How far apart should I plant Standing Ovation Little Bluestem?
Space Standing Ovation Little Bluestem 18–24 inches apart for full coverage and airflow, or closer for a denser look. Proper spacing enhances color and vigor.
gardengoodsdirect.com
gardengoodsdirect.com › products › little-bluestem-standing-ovation
Standing Ovation Little Bluestem | Native Ornamental Grass | Garden ...
Do you have seeding instructions for Little Bluestem? Is it difficult to grow from seed or does it establish easily? Please explain the technique for dry stratification for little Bluestem. Thanks so much.
Little Bluestem is easy to grow and establish from seed. The Little Bluestem seed from Prairie Nursery has been stored in cold dry storage, and is ready to plant. Spread the seed evenly over a prepared, weed-free soil or planting medium, and rake/cover with...
prairienursery.com
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Little Bluestem - Schizachyrium scoparium | Prairie Nursery
What is the seeding rate for a solid stand of Little Bluestem?
The seeding rate for Little Bluestem for a solid stand (of a single species) is:
• 5 oz. per 1000 sq. ft., or
• 12 lb. per acre. When seeding two or more grasses together, divide the seeding rate for each species by the number of species to be planted...
• 5 oz. per 1000 sq. ft., or
• 12 lb. per acre. When seeding two or more grasses together, divide the seeding rate for each species by the number of species to be planted...
prairienursery.com
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Little Bluestem - Schizachyrium scoparium | Prairie Nursery
Better Homes & Gardens
bhg.com › gardening › plant-dictionary › perennial › little-bluestem
Grow Little Bluestem in Your Prairie-Style Garden
April 9, 2024 - Leave this perennial grass in the garden through winter where it will serve as a food source and shelter for wildlife. In early spring use hedge shears to cut it back to about three inches above the soil. Be patient; little bluestem won't send up new foliage until late spring. The best effect of little bluestem is achieved in the landscape but because of its relatively small size compared to other ornamental grasses, it is suitable to be grown in containers.
Prairie Moon Nursery
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Schizachyrium scoparium Little Bluestem | Prairie Moon Nursery
Schizachyrium scoparium
Little Bluestem is an iconic warm season grass of the
prairie habitat that is commonly used in both landscaping and restoration
projects. In shortgrass prairies, it is often the dominant species along with Side-oats
Grama. In tallgrass prairies, companion grasses include Big
Bluestem, Indian
Grass, and Switch
Grass.One of the most widely distributed species of grass in the
US, Little Bluestem is very drought-tolerant, but it can do well in moist
situations too.
Farmers have used this species for hay, but consecutive years of haying
will likely cause the species to disappear. In a gar
Price $21.00
Prairie Nursery
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Little Bluestem - Schizachyrium scoparium | Prairie Nursery
October 10, 2020 - Little Bluestem is a highly ornamental native grass prized for its blue-green leaf color and upright form. The foliage provides excellent color all season-long and creates the perfect backgrop for prairie flowers. Densely mounded, Little Bluestem reaches a height of 3 feet by autumn, when it turns a striking bronze, with illuminated tufted seeds.
Garden Goods Direct
gardengoodsdirect.com › products › little-bluestem-standing-ovation
Standing Ovation Little Bluestem | Native Ornamental Grass | Garden Goods Direct
Its combination of vertical structure, native resilience, and dynamic fall hues makes it a standout performer in any garden style. For naturalized plantings, space 18–24 inches apart for even coverage and airflow.
Bay Gardens
baygardens.com › products › little-bluestem-grass-schizachyrium-scoparium-standing-ovation
Little Bluestem Grass - Schizachyrium scoparium 'Standing Ovation' – Bay Gardens
Little Bluestem Grass - Schizachyrium scoparium 'Standing Ovation'
Additional Information:
Latin Name:
Schizachyrium scoparium 'Standing Ovation'
Plant Type:
Ornamental grass
Exposure:
Full Sun
Deer Resistant:
Yes
Mature Height:
3-4ft
Mature Width:
12-18 inches
Recommend Spacing:
8-12 inches
Hardiness Zone:
Zone 3-8
Bloom Time:
Late Summer - Early Fall
Flower Colors:
Silver
Water Needs:
Dry-Medium
Maintenance:
Easy
Pruning Time:
Late Winter, Early Spring
Additional attribute:
Heat Tolerant
Drought Tolerant
Foliage Interest
Erosion Control
Fall/Winter Interest
Landscape Uses:
Border, Grass, Landscape, Mass
Price $19.99
New Moon Nursery
newmoonnursery.com › plant › Schizachyrium-scoparium
Schizachyrium scoparium | New Moon Nursery
Warm Season Grass · Butterflies, Pollinators, Songbirds · Clay Soil, Dried Flower, Drought Tolerant, Naturalizing · September · scoparium · Little bluestem - 2022 Perennial Plant of the Year · Spacing : 12 · - 18 · in · Native to North America · 4-10 · Height : 2 ·
Wisconsin Horticulture
hort.extension.wisc.edu › articles › little-bluestem-schizachyrium-scoparium
Little Bluestem, Schizachyrium scoparium – Wisconsin Horticulture
Little bluestem, Schizachyrium scoparium, is a native ornamental grass featuring blue green summer foliage and reddish to purple fall color. This article tells how to grow this adaptable grass in your landscape.
Great Garden Plants
greatgardenplants.com › translation missing: en.general.breadcrumb.home › 'twilight zone' little bluestem grass (schizachyrium)
'Twilight Zone' Little Bluestem Grass | Perennials – Great Garden Plants
'Twilight Zone' Little Bluestem Grass (Schizachyrium)
Unique iridescent foliage with mauves and purples.
Has a broad, columnar shape and appealing habit.
Native species that supports pollinators and provides food, shelter, and nesting material for birds.
Zones 3-9, Sun, 4.5' tall x 2' wide at maturity.
Price $16.99
Missouri Botanical Garden
missouribotanicalgarden.org › PlantFinder › PlantFinderDetails.aspx
Schizachyrium scoparium - Plant Finder
Ornamental grass for borders, cottage gardens, rock gardens, rain gardens, wild gardens, wood margins, meadows or prairie-like settings. Group or mass.
USDA
plants.usda.gov › DocumentLibrary › plantguide › pdf › pg_scsc.pdf pdf
LITTLE BLUESTEM Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash Plant Symbol = SCSC
A study in North Dakota required 18 hours of artificial light each day for continued growth of seedling little bluestem ... Cultivars should be selected based on the local climate, resistance to local pests, and intended use. Consult with your local · land grant university, local extension or local USDA NRCS office for recommendations on adapted cultivars for use in your ... Johnson, J. and G. Larson. 1999. Grassland plants of South Dakota and the Northern Great Plains.
Outside Pride
outsidepride.com › resources › planting › little-bluestem-planting
Planting Guide For Little Bluestem
No cropping should occur below 8 inches or within 1 month of anticipated frosts. Grazing of competing cool season grasses after frost in the fall and before the Little Bluestem is 1 inch tall in the spring is desirable. 8 - 12 PLS lbs per acre or 1/2 - 1 PLS lb per 1000 square feet for ornamental plantings.
Spring Hill Nursery
springhillnursery.com › home › perennials › standing ovation little bluestem
Standing Ovation Little Bluestem | Shop Grasses | Spring Hill
Standing Ovation Little Bluestem
A Superior Selection of Native Little Bluestem
Standing Ovation is a carefully selected variety of North American native Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), bred for stronger, more upright growth and greater adaptability. Unlike many Little Bluestem varieties that tend to flop, Standing Ovation maintains a tight, vertical form, making it ideal for modern landscapes, prairie restorations, and urban plantings.
Season-Long Color That Lasts into Winter
This high-performing ornamental grass provides bold structure and striking seasonal color from spring through winter. It emerges in spring w
Price $32.49
Wikipedia
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Schizachyrium scoparium - Wikipedia
September 7, 2025 - It can be burned in late winter or early spring in a prairie or meadow before new growth, like many American prairie grasses (big bluestem, Indian-grass, and switchgrass), which burn quickly and cleanly. A number of cultivars have been developed. 'Carousel' is a compact form with especially good fall color developed by Chicagoland Grows. 'The Blues' is a selection that has bluer foliage. 'Standing Ovation' is a tight, upright form with bluer and thicker blades and sturdier stems. Little bluestem is the official state grass of Nebraska and Kansas.
Proven Winners
provenwinners.com › plants › schizachyrium › prairie-winds-blue-paradise-little-bluestem-schizachyrium-scoparium
Prairie Winds® 'Blue Paradise' - Little Bluestem - Schizachyrium scoparium | Proven Winners
Was a lovely straight tallish Corner backdrop for my Other pots. As directed I cut it back to about 5 inches in late November and it wintered outside looking like a small bristle of straw. Then this spring it began to return and now in early June it is already a glorious 12 high by 12 inch diameter bushy green grass.
Outsidepride
outsidepride.com › seed › native-grass-seed › bluestem-little-native-grass-seed.html
Little Bluestem Native Prairie Grass & Ornamental Xeriscape Grass Seed
This native prairie grass has a wide range of colors which are various shades of blue and green hues. These colors turn to a striking bright red in fall and are are topped by fluffy silvery-white seed stalks. Little Bluestem ornamental grass can reach heights of two to four feet tall and a patch of this waving in the wind is truly a wonderful sight for your landscape.
Gardening Know How
gardeningknowhow.com › home › ornamental gardens › foliage
Little Bluestem Care: Tips For Growing Little Bluestem Grass
April 21, 2022 - It is a perennial warm-season grass with pretty bluish green color followed by rust colored fall foliage and fluffy white seed heads. Growing little bluestem grass in the landscape as an ornamental foliage plant provides a dimensional and architectural foil for broad leaved and flowering plants.