Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash - Grass family
Size
Mature Height: Up to around 3.0 feet
Plant Type: Graminoid
Root Depth: 14 inches
Growth Form: Bunch
Growth Rate: Moderate
Features
Flower Color: Yellow
Conspicuous Flowers: No
Bloom Time: Summer
Seasonal Growth: Summer and Fall
Evergreen: No
Fall Colors: No
Conditions
Shade Tolerance: Intolerant
Clay Soil Tolerance: Yes
Sandy Soil Tolerance: Yes
Drought Tolerance: High
Flood Tolerance: None
Fire Tolerance: Medium
Salt Tolerance: None
Ecosystem Interactions
Pollinators: Butterflies; Nesting and Structure (Bees); Larval Host (Butterfly); Larval Host (Moth); Wind
Larval Species depending on Little Bluestem: Atrytone argos, Atrytonopsis hianna, Atrytonopsis loammi, Hesperia dacotae, Hesperia leonardus pawnee, Hesperia meskei, Hesperia meskei meskei, Hesperia metea, Hesperia miriamae, Hesperia ottoe, Hesperia sassacus, Nastra lherminier, Polites origenes, Stereomita andropogonis
Native Range
- USA: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode I., South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
- CAN: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Québec, Saskatchewan
- MEX: Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Southeast
State-level native status is based on data available through Plants of the World Online. Regional Native Status comes from the USDA Plants Database. For more detailed native status information, please refer to BONAP.