‘Jazz’ Silvery blue summer foliage gives way to strong purple to deep bronze fall color.‘Blaze’ little bluestem foliage emerges light blue in spring, darkens to gray-green in summer, then finally bursts into shades of pinkish-orange, reddish-purple, or vivid red in fall. Great cultivars to consider include ‘Blaze’, ‘Blue Heaven’ and ‘The Blues’. If little bluestem tend to flop down on the ground in your gardens, they are either getting too much shade, too much water or too much nitrogen. The seed heads are produced in late summer to early fall, consisting of fluffy, beige plumes. In summer the foliage is medium green to bluish-green, changing in fall to reddish-bronze or orange. Plants grow 2-3 feet tall, depending the cultivar. Cut back clumps in late winter or early spring before new growth appears. They perform well in poor soil and keeping soil nitrogen levels low is important to prevent lodging, flopping or the need for staking. Loosen heavy or compacted soil before planting to enable better root development of young plants. To maintain an upright growth habit, little bluestem requires full sun, well-drained soil (clay or sandy) and dry growing conditions (once plants are well established). It’s also a larval food source for a variety of butterflies and moths, including several species of skippers. Little bluestems upright nature makes it a great compliment to many blooming perennials, such as coneflower, sedum, coreopsis, blanketflower, asters and many more. It’s native to a large portion of North America and was one of the main components of the tall grass prairie. Plants grow most actively during the hot days of summer and are quite drought tolerant once established. Little bluestem is a warm-season grass which starts growth in late spring and stops in early fall. Their foliage remains throughout the winter months to give added interest in the winter landscape. Grasses also add a sense of movement to a landscape as the foliage and flower heads dance in the wind. The 2022 perennial of the year is little bluestem, Schizachyrium scoparium, and its’ ornamental cultivars. The Perennial Plant Association (PPA)is a professional horticulture trade organization dedicated to improving the perennial plant industry by providing education to enhance the production, promotion and utilization of perennial plants.
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