Little Bluestem care — light, water, toxicity and hardiness
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) wants full sun and a drink about every 14 days once established. It is hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9. It is safe to have around pets.
| scientific name | Schizachyrium scoparium |
|---|---|
| family | Poaceae |
| category | grass |
| plant type | perennial |
| light | full sun |
| water cadence days | 14 |
| mature height cm | 90 |
| min zone | 3 |
| max zone | 9 |
| frost tolerant | true |
| toxic to pets | false |
| toxic to humans | false |
| edible | false |
How often should I water Little Bluestem?
Native; blue in summer, copper in winter; poor soil.
Who eats it
Palatable to browsing animals such as deer: medium. Palatable to grazing animals: high. Palatable to people: no.
What it needs
Its shade tolerance is high. Its moisture use is low. Its drought tolerance is high. It wants at least about 18 inches of rain a year. Above roughly 45 inches of annual rain it struggles. It tolerates soil down to pH 5.6. It tolerates soil up to pH 8.4. Its fertility requirement is low. Adapted to coarse, sandy soils: yes. Adapted to medium, loamy soils: yes. Adapted to fine, clay soils: yes. It needs at least 95 frost-free days. Its tolerance of chalky soil is high. Its fire tolerance is medium. Fire resistant: no. It has been recorded down to -38°F. It suppresses neighbours chemically: no.
How it grows
It grows as a bunch form. Its growth rate is moderate. Its lifespan is long. It puts on most of its growth in summer and fall. It spreads by seed at a slow rate. It spreads vegetatively at a moderate rate. It resprouts after damage: no. Coppices: no. At maturity it reaches about 3.5 feet. Its roots go down at least 14 inches. Its shape is erect. It holds its leaves through winter: no.
What it looks like
It blooms in summer. The flowers are yellow. Conspicuous in flower: no. The foliage is green. The foliage texture is medium. In summer the canopy is moderate in porosity. In winter it is porous in porosity. Fall colour: no. The fruit or seed is brown. Fruit begins in summer. Fruit finishes by fall. It fruits medium. The fruit persists on the plant: no. The fruit is conspicuous: no.
Growing more of it
Propagated by seed: yes. Propagated by cuttings: no. Propagated by container: no. Propagated by bare root: no. Propagated by bulb: no. Propagated by corm: no. Propagated by tubers: no. Cold stratification required: no. Seedling vigour is medium. Commercial availability: routinely available.
Source: Drafted from US Cooperative Extension horticulture guidance; pending HUMAN-05 review (issue 280) · ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List · 2026-09-02