
Light Needs

Mature Height

Mature Spread

Growing Zones
The Blues little bluestem is an exceptionally adaptable, low-maintenance ornamental grass that provides stellar year-round interest. This cultivar is noteworthy for its exceptional blue color in summer and coppery orange tones in fall. Flowers appear on branched stems in late summer. They are followed by clusters of attractive silvery-white, feathery seed heads that persist into winter.
Little bluestem is native to North America and was once the most dominant prairie grass, making it an excellent selection for native and bird-friendly landscapes. Drought tolerant and with few care needs, this plant is a workhorse in sun-baked areas. It fits in perfectly in meadow or prairie style plantings and fills in quickly as a mass planting. Shorter than many other ornamental grass selections, it works as a border or in cottage gardens without dwarfing nearby plants.
The Blues Little Bluestem Care
This ornamental grass grows best in a site with full sunlight. Once established, it is drought tolerant and requires only very occasional watering during dry periods. Fertilizer needs are minimal. Too little sun and too much water or fertilizer has a tendency to make the plant flop over. The Blues little bluestem has great heat, humidity, and cold tolerance and easily grows in a range of soils but prefers good drainage.
For pruning, simply cut or mow the little bluestem just above ground level when you see new growth start to emerge in late winter or spring.
The Blues Little Bluestem Spacing
The Blues Little Bluestem grows two to three feet tall with a similar spread. Position these little bluestems two feet apart, center on center, to create a filled-in mass planting within a few growing seasons.
The Blues Little Bluestem Grass Information
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 - 9 |
Plant Type: |
Light Exposure: Full Sun (At Least 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight) |
Mature Height: 3 - 5 Feet |
Mature Spread: 1 - 2 Feet |
Spacing: 1 - 2 Feet |
Habit: Upright |
Flower Color(s): Purple |
Flower Description: |
Bloom Period: August |
Foliage Type: Deciduous |
Foliage Color(s): Green |
Foliage Description: |
Seasonal Interest: Summer Flowering |
Watering: Average |
Resists: Deer |
Tolerates: Drought |
Attracts: Birds |
Container Role: |
Uses: Borders, Erosion Control, Hedges & Privacy, Mass Planting, Wildlife Gardens |
Features: Attracts Pollinators, Foliage Interest, Low Maintenance, Native to North America, Award Winner |
Brand: American Beauties Native Plants |
Common Name: The Blues Little Bluestem Grass |
Other Name(s): |
Scientific Name: SCHIZACHYRIUM SCOPARIUM `THE BLUES` |
- SKU:
- 1231003354-pc
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.

Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts

Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts

Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts

Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons

Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons

Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons

We stand behind our plants with industry-leading guarantees to give you peace of mind.
We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2025 all bushes, perennials & trees purchased come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.

Pre-ordered plants are scheduled to ship in Spring 2025. We carefully plan our shipping dates based on your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone to ensure optimal planting conditions upon arrival. Want it sooner/later? Reach out, and we'll try our best to accommodate.
Estimated ship week for pre-ordered plants will ship based on growing zones as shown below.
Growing Zone | Estimated Ship Week |
---|---|
Zone 10 | March 31th |
Zone 9 | March 31st |
Zone 8 | April 7th |
Zone 7 | April 14th |
Zone 6b | April 21st |
Zone 6a | April 28th |
Zone 5b | May 5th |
Zone 5a | May 12th |
Zone 4 | May 19th |
Zone 3 | May 26th |
Note: These are only estimated ship dates. Plants may ship out later depending on weather & growing conditions of the plant.
Note: Only plants indicated as pre-order will ship as shown above. All other plants and hard goods will ship as normal.
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: AZ, CA, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, WA, AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!