Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium ‘Jazz’)

Features and Characteristics

Schizachyrium scoparium, commonly called little bluestem, is native to prairies, fields, clearings, hills, limestone glades, roadsides, waste areas and open woods from Alberta to Quebec south to Arizona and Florida. It was one of the dominant grasses of the vast tallgrass prairie region which once covered rich and fertile soils in many parts of central North America. It typically matures to 2-4’ (less frequently to 5’) tall, and features upright clumps of slender, flat, linear green leaves (to 1/4“ wide), with each leaf having a tinge of blue at the base. Purplish-bronze flowers appear in 3” long racemes on branched stems rising above the foliage in August. Flowers are followed by clusters of fluffy, silvery-white seed heads which are attractive and often persist into winter. Many consider the most outstanding ornamental feature of this grass to be its bronze-orange fall foliage color.

Genus name comes from the Latin schizein meaning to split and achyron meaning chaff.

Specific epithet means broomlike.

Common name is in reference to the lavender-blue color on the stem bases.

‘Jazz’ was introduced in 2010 by Intrinsic Perennial Gardens of Hebron, Illinois. Discovered as a sport of Schizachyrium scoparium ‘The Blues’, it was chosen for its shorter form that will not flop over. It has narrow blue foliage with purple hues in fall and grows 2 to 5 ft. tall and 1 to 5 ft. wide. Purplish-bronze flowers give way to clusters of fluffy, silvery-white seed heads which may persist into early winter.