Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Ornamental Grass
Bloom
August — September
Color
Silver — Copper
Height
24—36 inches
Spread
12—18 inches
Sun
Full sun (6+ hours)
Water
Very low — drought tolerant once established
The native swap for maiden grass (Miscanthus sinensis) and the backbone of prairie planting on the Front Range. Blue-green upright clumps through summer turn copper-orange in fall and hold that color all winter, catching low light in a way Miscanthus never does. It stands up under Denver snow load instead of flopping, needs no supplemental water after establishment, and self-sows lightly in lean ground. Cut it back in early spring, not fall — the winter structure is half the point.
Growing conditions
- Soil: Well-draining, sandy/loamy — tolerates lean soil
- Sun: Full sun (6+ hours)
- Water: Very low — drought tolerant once established
- Drought tolerance: Excellent
- Hardiness: Colorado native / adapted · USDA Zones 4–7
Wildlife & ecology
- Pollinator value: Moderate — larval host for several skipper butterflies, winter seed for birds
- Landscape use: Prairie and meadow plantings, mass plantings, mixed borders, winter structure.
Want Little Bluestem in your yard?
Xeris designs and installs native plant xeriscapes across Denver and the Front Range. We'll walk your site, assess soil and sun, and build a plan that thrives.
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