Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium Scoparium ‘Prairie Munchkin’)

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.

‘Prairie Munchkin’ is a compact, upright selection of little bluestem that features colorful foliage and showy seedheads in fall. The foliage matures from blue-green to shades of copper, orange, and maroon in fall. The flowering stalks emerge from the centers of the clumps in late summer, topped by silvery seedheads in fall that persist into winter. Mature clumps will reach up to 3′ tall and spread to fill a 2′ area. This plant is protected by patent number PP2633