Hollinshead Water-wise Garden Plants

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Photo:

Pat Kolling

Little Bluestem

Latin Name:

Schizachyrium scoparium 'Blaze'

Bronze orange fall foliage

Taxon ID#

83 MAINTENANCE

Maintenance Level:

Low

Min. USDA Hardiness Zone:

3 Sun Preference:

Full Sun

Water Preference:

L

Soil Preference:

Average, dry to medium moisture, well drained soil

Fertilizer Needs:

Recommended Mulch:

Family:

Poaceae

Origins:

Plant Type:

Grass

One of dominant grasses of the tallgrass prairies of central North America

Oregon native:

no

Western state native:

no

PLANT DESCRIPTION

Foliage Color:

Green

Foliage Description:

Slender flat linear green leaves with tinge of blue at the base

Fragrant:

no

Predominant flower color:

Brown

Flower Description:

Purplish bronze flowers in 3' long racemes

Fall color:

yes

Fall Color Description:

Bronze orange leaves

Winter Foliage:

Deciduous

Winter Interest:

yes

Winter Interest Description:

Seeds heads persist into winter

Mature height:

2-3'

Mature spread:

18-24"

Growth rate:

LANDSCAPE APPLICATION

Deer Resistant:

yes

Fire Resistant:

no

Attracts Pollinators:

no

Attracts Butterflies:

no

Native Habitat:

Native to prairies, fields, clearings, hills, limestone glades, roadsides, waste areas and open woods from Alberta to Quebec south to Arizona and Florida

Attracts Birds:

no

Cut/Dried Flowers:

no

Photo:

Used by Wildlife:

no

Hedge/Screen:

no

Swales:

yes

Wildlife Use:

Border:

yes

Erosion Control:

yes

Windbreak:

no

Cover Structures:

no

Ground Cover:

no

Provides Shade:

no

Rock Garden:

no

Adds Texture/Movement:

no

First Bloom:

Aug

Last Bloom:

Oct

Ornamental Accent:

no

Garden Observations:

SEASONAL CARE

Spring Care:

Cut back clumps to the ground in late winter to early spring

Summer Care:

Fall Care:

Winter Care:

Cut clumps to ground in later winter to early spring

Long Term Care:

Insect Pests:

No serious problems

Wildlife Pests:

No serious problems

Diseases:

Environmental Problems:

Landscape Problems:

Care Comments:

Tolerant of drought, erosion, dry soil, wet soil, black walnut, air pollution

RESOURCES

OSU Landscape Profile:

USDA Plants:

#https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=SCSC#

Calscape Database:

LBJ Native Plant Database:

Missouri Botanical Garden Database:

#http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=272432#

Monrovia Profile:

Alternate Source 1:

Alternate Source 2:

Source Comment:

Hollinshead Water-wise Garden Plants

Photo:

Pat Kolling

Little Bluestem

​

​

Latin Name:

Taxon ID#

83

MAINTENANCE

Low

Min. USDA Hardiness Zone:

3

Sun Preference:

Full Sun

Water Preference:

L

Soil Preference:

Average, dry to medium moisture, well drained soil

Fertilizer Needs:

​

Recommended Mulch:

​

Family:

Origins:

Plant Type:

Grass

One of dominant grasses of the tallgrass prairies of central North America

Oregon native:

no

Western state native:

no

PLANT DESCRIPTION

Foliage Color:

Green

Foliage Description:

Slender flat linear green leaves with tinge of blue at the base

Fragrant:

no

Predominant flower color:

Brown

Flower Description:

Purplish bronze flowers in 3' long racemes

Fall color:

yes

Fall Color Description:

Bronze orange leaves

Winter Foliage:

Deciduous

Winter Interest:

yes

Winter Interest Description:

Seeds heads persist into winter

Mature height:

2-3'

Mature spread:

18-24"

Growth rate:

​

LANDSCAPE APPLICATION

Deer Resistant:

yes

Fire Resistant:

no

Attracts Pollinators:

no

Attracts Butterflies:

no

Native Habitat:

Native to prairies, fields, clearings, hills, limestone glades, roadsides, waste areas and open woods from Alberta to Quebec south to Arizona and Florida

Attracts Birds:

no

Cut/Dried Flowers:

no

Photo:

​

Used by Wildlife:

no

Hedge/Screen:

no