Little Bluestem
Warm-season perennial grass reaching 60-120 cm tall. Features fine-textured, blue-green foliage turning reddish-bronze in fall. Produces fluffy, silver-white seed heads. Prefers well-drained soils and full sun. Drought-tolerant once established. Provides food and shelter for wildlife. Excellent for prairies, meadows, and ornamental grass plantings. Native to most of North America.
Plant Details
Bloom Colour: Purplish-Bronze
Bloom Time: Late-Summer to Fall
Sun Requirements: Sun
Moisture: Dry to Moist-Drained
Phenology: Growth begins late May. Blue-green foliage develops June. Flowering stems appear August. Copper-orange fall color develops September, persisting through winter.
Wildlife Value: Seeds eaten by songbirds and small mammals; provides nesting cover for ground birds; larval host for skipper butterflies
Habit Over Time: Forms dense, upright clumps that gradually expand from the center. Individual plants maintain clear boundaries and do not spread aggressively. The fine-textured foliage creates strong vertical elements that catch light beautifully. While it self-seeds modestly, it's easy to manage and works well in groups or drifts.
Height: Medium (2-4 feet)