Description
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), also known as Beardgrass or Andropogon scoparius, is a warm-season, clump-forming native grass found across much of the United States. It typically grows 2–4 feet tall, with fine blue-green foliage that turns copper, red, and bronze in fall, along with soft, fluffy seed heads that persist into winter.
This iconic prairie grass thrives in full sun and well-drained soils, including sandy or poor soils. It is highly drought-tolerant but can also handle moderate moisture. Its deep root system—often reaching 5 feet or more—makes it excellent for erosion control and long-term resilience in tough conditions.
Little Bluestem is a staple of prairie ecosystems and is commonly used in both landscaping and restoration. It pairs naturally with grasses like Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans), Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), and Sideoats Grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), and is often dominant in drier prairie settings. It is also a featured grass in our Tallgrass Prairie Seed Mix because of importance in native prairie plantings.
It provides significant wildlife value. It serves as a host plant for several skipper butterflies, and its seeds are eaten by songbirds. The dense clumps also offer important nesting and overwintering habitat for insects and birds, including bumblebee queens.
The ‘Aldous’ variety offers improved vigor and forage quality while maintaining the same ornamental and ecological benefits.
