What is it? Little Bluestem, also known as Schizachyrium scoparium, is a highly ornamental native prairie grass.
Native to where? It is native to most of the contiguous United States.
Hardiness Zone: Plants are hardy from USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 9.
What does it look like? It grows to become an upright, roundish mound of soft, bluish-green or grayish-green blades. Little Bluestem reaches a height of 3 feet by autumn, when it turns a striking reddish-bronze, bearing illuminated tufted seeds.
Bloom Time: In July, it initiates flowering stalks, which reach 4 to 5 feet in height.
Growth Habit: Little Blue Stem is a species of bunchgrass, which grow as singular plants in clumps, tufts, hummocks, or bunches, rather than forming a sod or lawn. The rigid clumps can withstand snow and rain, allowing the reddish grass stems to remain upright for most of the winter.
Growing Conditions: This prairie grass excels in dry sandy soils. It is not recommended for damp sites or heavy clay soils. Full sun.
Environmental Benefits: Little Bluestem is a host plant for numerous skipper butterflies including the Cobweb Skipper, Dusted Skipper, Ottoe Skipper, Delaware Skipper, Crossline Skipper and Swarthy Skipper.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizachyrium_scoparium
https://www.prairienursery.com/little-bluestem-schizachyrium-scoparium.html
Image Sources:
Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=807822
By Montrealais - Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4358954