Schizachyrium scoparium 'Glaucum'

Search PlantFinder Names

Schizachyrium scoparium 'Glaucum'

(0 ratings) --- Rate this plant / Read comments

Kemper Code: Y620

Common Name: little bluestem
Zone: 3 to 8
Plant Type: Ornamental grass
Family: Poaceae
Missouri Native: No
Native Range: None
Height: 2 to 3 feet
Spread: 1 to 1.5 feet
Bloom Time: August - February
Bloom Color: Purplish-bronze
Sun: Full sun
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low

Plant Culture and Characteristics

Sources for this plant

View our source(s)

Uses:		Wildlife:	Flowers:	Leaves:	Fruit:
Hedge	Suitable as annual	Attracts birds	Has showy flowers	Leaves colorful	Has showy fruit
Shade tree	Culinary herb	Attracts	Has fragrant flowers	Leaves fragrant	Fruit edible
Street tree	Vegetable	hummingbirds	Flowers not showy	Good fall color	Other:
Flowering tree	Water garden plant	Attracts	Good cut flower	Evergreen	Winter interest
Gr. cover (<1')	Will naturalize	butterflies	Good dried flower		Thorns or spines

General Culture:

Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soil in full sun. Tolerates wide range of soil conditions. Performs well in poor, dry soils. Tolerant of high heat and humidity. Cut to the ground in late winter to early spring.

Noteworthy Characteristics:

This little bluestem cultivar is an ornamental grass which typically grows 2-4' tall. Features erect, upright, broom-like clumps of slender leaves (1/4" wide) which are tinted blue. Pinkish-tinged culms (stems). Foliage acquires burgundy-red tones in autumn. Purplish-bronze flowers appear in 3" long racemes on branched stems rising above the foliage in August. Flowers give way to clusters of fluffy, silvery-white seed heads which may persist into early winter. Blue foliage and fall color are probably the best ornamental features of this grass. The species (see F510) is a Missouri native which was one of the dominant grasses of the rich and fertile soils of the tallgrass prairie.

Problems:

No serious insect or disease problems.

Uses:

Borders, cottage gardens, wild gardens, wood margins, meadows or prairie-like settings. Group or mass. A good low-maintenance selection for sun-baked areas.