Plant of the Month September 2022: Little Bluestem
Little Bluestem, Schizachirium scoparium
September 2022 Plant of the Month
Northern Neck Chapter, Virginia Native Plant Society
Text and Photos by Betsy Washington
Fall is the time when flowers begin to fade but it’s the season when many of our native grasses are at their best. The low-angled fall sun backlights the fine textured grass foliage providing autumnal tints and luminous seedheads which seem to glow and sparkle as they move in the wind. Little Bluestem is one of our finest native grasses and was once one of the dominant grasses of the vast Tallgrass Prairies that covered much of central North America. This beautiful warm-season perennial is one of the most widespread grasses in our area and found in nearly every county in Virginia. It is adapted to a variety of natural habitats including open forests, riverside prairies, barrens, fields, meadows, and roadsides.
Growing during our warmer months, this grass typically reaches only 2 – 4’ tall and 1.5 – 3’ wide and grows in upright clumps, with fine-textured, slender arching leaves less than ¼” wide. Its common name, Little Bluestem, derives from the lovely blue tints of the foliage and stems in summer as well as its compact size. As summer progresses, the foliage takes on reddish and even lavender tints before turning a rich copper-orange to orange-red in fall. The handsome bronzy-orange color persists through the winter adding welcome color to fields and gardens. In August, purplish bronze flowers emerge on 3” long racemes held on branched stems above the foliage. These ripen into clusters of beautiful fuzzy, silvery- white seedheads that catch the fall and winter sun and are particularly lovely against the striking coppery-orange fall foliage.
Little Bluestem is easy to grow and adaptable to a wide variety of soils from sand to clay and even poor soils as well as tolerant of heat, humidity, drought, and slightly salty conditions. It is also deer and pest resistant and grows best in full sun. Its fibrous roots often extend 5’ or more into the soil making it an excellent upper bank stabilizer, preventing erosion and shrugging off dry soils and droughts. These deep roots, like those of most Tallgrass Prairie grasses, allow it to adapt well to our late summer drought periods. Little Bluestem is the perfect beautiful compact grass whether planted as an accent plant or in a perennial border where its fine blue green foliage and upright form contrasts beautifully with other perennials. And it is likewise outstanding when planted in masses within coastal, cottage, rain gardens or as the backbone of meadows. It even shines when planted in containers. The only care it needs is an annual cutting back in late winter and avoiding overly rich soils and when excess mulch around the roots. It can be planted from containers, landscape plugs, or from seed.
Little Bluestem will bring year-round beauty, drama, and life to the garden as it supports a diversity of butterflies, moths, and winter songbirds including sparrows and juncos. It is the larval host for several small skipper butterflies as well as the beautiful Common Wood Nymph butterfly.
As a testament to how exceptional this grass is, Little Blue Stem is the 2022 Plant of the Year for the Perennial Plant Association, the trade association for plant growers, retailers, landscape designers, contractors and educators, who are increasingly taking note of our beautiful and adaptable native plants.
You can find Little Bluestem and other ornamental native grasses at our Fall Native Plant Sale from September 17 – 24th at Dug In Farms in White Stone, along with over 1300 wonderful native plants to compliment this outstanding grass; nearly all of our plant offerings are Coastal Plain natives and all are Virginia natives. These plants have been lovingly raised by Chapter members and this is our only annual plant sale and the primary fundraiser for chapter events. We will have experts on hand each Saturday morning from 9 am to 1 pm to help you find the perfect native plants for your landscape and to create a beautiful sanctuary for humans as well as wildlife.