Big Bluestem
Andropogon gerardii
The towering 'turkey-foot' grass that once defined the tallgrass prairie, head-high by fall.
- Full sun
- Dry to wet
- 4–7 ft
- Fall color
- Home
- Plant guide
- Little Bluestem
Blue-green to copper
Ornamental grass
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
The backbone grass of the prairie — blue-green in summer, glowing copper and silver all winter.
the Northeastthe Mid-Atlanticthe Southeastthe Midwestthe Great Plainsthe South-Central regionthe Mountain Westthe desert Southwest
Growing Little Bluestem
Arguably the single most useful native grass, native to nearly the whole country and host to a dozen skipper butterflies. Wants sun and drainage; flops in rich, wet soil. It’s deer-resistant, drought-tolerant, good fall color, good for winter interest, and easy to grow.
Where it grows
Little Bluestem is native to the Northeast. In the wild you’ll find it across Alabama · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · Florida · Georgia · Idaho and 37 more states. Always confirm it suits your specific county with your state native plant society before planting.
Regional Garden shows Little Bluestem on 47 state pages.
Good for
Sourcing
Where to buy Little Bluestem
Seeds & live plants on Amazon
Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.
Browse on AmazonSome links here are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The surest source of locally-adapted stock is a native-plant nursery or a native plant society sale in your area.
Plant it with
Companions & kin.
Natives that share Little Bluestem’s range and conditions.
Indian Grass
Sorghastrum nutans
Tall golden plumes catch the autumn light above a classic tallgrass-prairie planting.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 4–7 ft
- Fall color
Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum
An upright, clumping grass with a summer haze of pink seed heads and reliable golden fall color.
- Full–part sun
- Dry to wet
- 3–6 ft
- Fall color
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
A low, spreading shrub that blankets dry banks and blazes scarlet and orange in fall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr