January Perennial of the Month-Little bluestem

The doldrums of January have arrived. What if you could turn your Winter Blues to red? Or, more precisely, russet or orange?

Little bluestem, Schizachyrium scoparium, is quite the chameleon, providing our gardens with a yummy shade of blue during the growing season, then changing to a rich, russet, or near-orange for winter. This native grass gets the best color in full sun, where it tolerates St. Louis heat and humidity, poor soils, and even drought. 

Unlike its cousin-Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), Little bluestem typically grows 2-4′ high. I love this plant in large masses where the color can make a huge impact in large beds. PLEASE don’t trim it in the fall so you can enjoy the winter color as much as you will the summer color!

(We revisit Horticulture pet peeve #34-trimming ornamental grasses in the fall, eliminating the BEST reason to plant them-“Winter Interest”)

Many new cultivars have hit the market lately, and a great place to compare them is the Kemper Center’s Native Garden. 

At the nursery, read the plant culture tags to check on mature size and other notable traits the straight species might not possess.

What I love about this plant;

-It’s native!

-Very low-maintenance grass.

-Great blue color during the growing season.

-Excellent fall/winter colors.

-Deer tolerant!

-No serious pests or diseases.

-Many new cultivars/”nativars” are hitting nurseries and garden centers. I have yet to see one that I didn’t like!

What I’m not crazy about-Still needs that once-a-year haircut in early spring, leaving just a crew-cut style tuft that takes a few weeks to fill out. However, the long winter interest this native plant provides is worth a little trouble in spring.

-Can be confused with big bluestem, a different genus with a much larger growth habit up to 6′. Make sure to read your tags and check the botanical names!

Words and photos by Jo Batzer

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