Little BluestemSchizachyrium scoparium
Little bluestem is a native perennial, clump-forming grass that can be used as an ornamental grass. It is an excellent winter cover species in open spaces, with excellent fall and winter color. It has been used in slope stabilization areas and buffers because its roots hold soil against erosion once established. It has been used successfully in the upper edge of rain water gardens where it is not being inundated, as a buffer or filter.
USDA symbol: SCSC
General Information
| Plant Type | Grass |
|---|---|
| Height | 3 feet |
| Light Exposure | Sun, Part Sun |
| Soil Moisture | Dry |
| Bloom Color | Red, Green, Brown |
Tolerances
| Flooding / Inundation Tolerance | Low |
|---|---|
| General Resilience | 9 |
| Salt Tolerance | Medium |
| Stress Tolerance | Drought Tolerant, Fire Tolerant, General Disturbance |
Pollinator Value: High
| Bloom Months | July to September |
|---|---|
| Larval Host of | Butterflies, Moths |
| Specific Pollinators Hosted | Numerous butterfly species, Trichordestra legitima |
| Pollinator Benefit | Stem Nesting |
Project Planning
| Project Type | Erosion Control, Rain Garden, Sandy or Engineered Soils, Upland Buffer |
|---|---|
| Coefficient of Conservatism | 5 |
| Herbivore Sensitivity | High |
| Lifespan | Perennial |
| Rate of Spread | Slow |
| Soil Stabilization | Shallow |
| Vegetative Reproduction | Clonal |
Range
| County | Anoka, Becker, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Cass, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Houston, Isanti, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Roseau, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, St. Louis, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Washington, Watonwan, Wilkin, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine |
|---|---|
| Ecoregion | Driftless Area, Lake Agassiz Plain, North Central Hardwood Forests, Northern Glaciated Plains, Northern Lakes and Forests, Northern Minnesota Wetlands, Western Cornbelt Plains |
| Approximate Eco Province | Eastern Broadleaf Forest, Laurentian Mixed Forest, Prairie Parkland, Tallgrass Aspen Parklands |