little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)

E750715

Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) is a perennial bunchgrass native to North American prairies, valued for its drought tolerance, wildlife habitat, and distinctive blue-green foliage that turns reddish-bronze in fall.

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Observed surface forms (1)

Surface form Occurrences
Schizachyrium scoparium 0

Statements (58)

Predicate Object
instanceOf perennial bunchgrass
plant species
class Liliopsida NERFINISHED
commonName little bluestem NERFINISHED
droughtTolerance high
ecologicalRole dominant grass of mixed-grass prairie
dominant grass of tallgrass prairie
erosionControl used for soil stabilization
family Poaceae NERFINISHED
fireAdaptation tolerant of periodic fire
floweringSeason fall
late summer
foliageColor blue-green in summer
reddish-bronze in fall
genus Schizachyrium NERFINISHED
growthForm bunchgrass
habitat old fields
open woodlands
prairies
roadsides
savannas
inflorescenceType spike-like raceme
introducedAsOrnamental yes
kingdom Plantae
leafArrangement basal and cauline leaves
lifeCycle perennial
lightRequirement full sun
management low maintenance in cultivation
nativeTo Great Plains NERFINISHED
North America
North American prairies NERFINISHED
eastern North America
order Poales NERFINISHED
ornamentalUse used in native plant gardens
used in ornamental grass plantings
photosyntheticPathway C4
phylum Tracheophyta NERFINISHED
plantHeight 0.3–1.0 meters
restorationUse used in prairie restoration
used in reclamation of disturbed sites
rootSystem deep fibrous roots
seedDispersal wind-dispersed seeds
seedHeadAppearance fluffy white seed tufts
soilPreference rocky soils
sandy soils
well-drained soils
species Schizachyrium scoparium NERFINISHED
stemColor bluish
subfamily Panicoideae NERFINISHED
tolerance tolerant of drought
tolerant of heat
tolerant of poor soils
tribe Andropogoneae NERFINISHED
USDAHardinessZone 3–9
wildlifeValue forage for livestock
provides cover for small mammals
provides food for birds
provides nesting habitat for birds

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Blackland Prairie historicallyDominatedBy little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)