Little bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Poaceae


Landscape Uses:

Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations.

Ecological Restoration Notes:

Availability:
Grown by one or two native plant nurseries in northern Florida.
Description:
Medium herbaceous grass.
Height:
About 1-2 feet in height; up to 6 feet in flower. Spreading from underground stems (rhizomes) and forming small patches broader than tall.
Growth Rate:
Moderate.
Range:
Widespread in North America (including Mexico) south to South Florida, at least as far south as Palm Beach and Lee counties.
Habitats:
Pinelands
Soils:
Moist, well-drained sandy soils, without humus.
Nutritional Requirements:
Low; it grows in nutrient poor soils.
Salt Water Tolerance:
Low; does not tolerate flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance:
Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.
Drought Tolerance:
High; does not require any supplemental water once established.
Light Requirements:
Full sun.
Flower Color:
Brownish inflorescence.
Flower Characteristics:
Semi-showy inflorescence.
Flowering Season:
Summer-fall.
Fruit:
Inconspicuous caryopsis.
Wildlife and Ecology:
Valuable source of seeds for birds.
Horticultural Notes:
Can be grown from seed and division.
Comments:
Taxonomy: some authors place S. rhizomatum into synonomy here.


Shirley Denton
Shirley Denton