Schizachyrium scoparium, commonly known as Little Bluestem, is a native warm-season bunchgrass found in prairies, open woods, and dry fields throughout Illinois. It thrives in well-drained soils and full sun and is highly drought-tolerant, making it ideal for dry, low-maintenance landscapes and prairie restorations.
This compact, upright grass features slender, bluish-green stems and leaves that turn striking shades of red, orange, and bronze in the fall. In late summer to early fall, it produces fluffy, silvery seed heads that catch the light and add ornamental interest. Plants typically grow 2 to 3 feet tall, forming dense clumps that remain attractive year-round.
For Illinois native plant enthusiasts, Schizachyrium scoparium is an excellent choice for prairie gardens, pollinator habitats, and erosion control. It provides cover and nesting sites for birds and small mammals, and its seeds are a food source for songbirds. Little Bluestem pairs well with other prairie natives like Purple Coneflower, Black-Eyed Susan, and Butterfly Weed, offering beauty, structure, and strong ecological value.
Schizachyrium scoparium, commonly known as Little Bluestem, is a native warm-season bunchgrass found in prairies, open woods, and dry fields throughout Illinois. It thrives in well-drained soils and full sun and is highly drought-tolerant, making it ideal for dry, low-maintenance landscapes and prairie restorations.
This compact, upright grass features slender, bluish-green stems and leaves that turn striking shades of red, orange, and bronze in the fall. In late summer to early fall, it produces fluffy, silvery seed heads that catch the light and add ornamental interest. Plants typically grow 2 to 3 feet tall, forming dense clumps that remain attractive year-round.
For Illinois native plant enthusiasts, Schizachyrium scoparium is an excellent choice for prairie gardens, pollinator habitats, and erosion control. It provides cover and nesting sites for birds and small mammals, and its seeds are a food source for songbirds. Little Bluestem pairs well with other prairie natives like Purple Coneflower, Black-Eyed Susan, and Butterfly Weed, offering beauty, structure, and strong ecological value.
Bloom: late summer to fall
Habitats: abandoned fields; black soil prairies; clay prairies; gravelly areas along railroads; gravel prairies; hill prairies; hilltop glades (limestone, sandstone, or shale); rocky slopes of thinly wooded bluffs; sand dunes; sand prairies; sandy savannas; scrubby barrens
Lifespan: perennial
Moisture: mesic to dry
Plant type (height): grass (2 to 3 feet)
Requirements: full sun
Soil: clay-loam; gravel; sand
