Little Blue Stem Grass, The Blues Schizachyrium scoparium 'The Blues' Plant Height: 24 inches Flower Height: 32 inches Spread: 18 inches
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Hardiness Zone: 3a Other Names: Little Bluestem Ornamental Features Little Blue Stem Grass, The Blues is primarily grown for its highly ornamental fruit. The antique red seed heads are carried on showy plumes displayed in abundance from early fall to late winter. Its attractive grassy leaves are powder blue in color. As an added bonus, the foliage turns a gorgeous coppery-bronze in the fall. It has masses of beautiful spikes of light green flowers rising above the foliage in late summer, which are most effective when planted in groupings. The brick red stems are very colorful and add to the overall interest of the plant. Landscape Attributes Little Blue Stem Grass, The Blues is an herbaceous perennial grass with an upright spreading habit of growth. It brings an extremely fine and delicate texture to the garden composition and should be used to full effect. This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cut back to the ground in late winter before active growth resumes. It has no significant negative characteristics. Little Blue Stem Grass, The Blues is recommended for the following landscape applications; Planting & Growing Little Blue Stem Grass, The Blues will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity extending to 32 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 18 inches. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen! This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. To help this plant achive its best flowering performance, periodically apply a flower-boosting fertilizer from early spring through into the active growing season. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selection of a native North American species. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.
