Little bluestem forms upright clumps of blue-green grass that turn coppery in autumn, retaining warm colour and seed heads through the winter.
- Height
- 60–122 cm / 2–4 ft
- Spread
- 45–92 cm / 1.5–3 ft
- Light
- Full sun
- Soil moisture
- Dry / Moist, well-drained
- Flowering
- Fall, Summer
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Maintenance
- Low
- USDA zones
- 3a–9b
Planting
Choose full sun and dry to moderately moist, well-drained soil. It tolerates poor soil and clay, and can grow in borders, meadow planting or containers.
Care
Cut back to the ground in late winter or early spring for fresh growth. Keep mulch away from the crown; established plants cope well with dry conditions.
Planting Little bluestem?
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Sources & photo credit
Plant reference: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Content checked . Flowering seasons vary with local climate; USDA zones describe winter cold tolerance.
- Little bluestem: Montrealais · CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized, converted to WebP and cropped for display.
- 'Northwind' switchgrass: David J. Stang · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized, converted to WebP and cropped for display.
- Korean feather reed grass: Donna Partlan · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized, converted to WebP and cropped for display.
- Switchgrass: Andrey Zharkikh · CC BY 4.0. Resized, converted to WebP and cropped for display.