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Planting & Care for Bluestem Native Ornamental Grasses
Preparation
- The Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) is a warm season, clump forming grass.
- The blue-green foliage provides a great backdrop for the prairie flowers in summer, turning a striking crimson in fall.
- It's a clump-forming grass that pairs nicely with prairie flowers.
- It grows two or three feet tall on well-drained sand and loam, and excels in dry sandy and rocky soils.
- Not recommended for heavy clay or damp soils.
- Be sure to plant in full sun for best results.
- Mature size is around 2-3’ tall and wide.
- Hardiness zone 4 (or possibly 3).
Opening Plant Material
- Containers - Completely saturate all container plants by putting in a larger container of water until stops bubbling, then remove. You’re now ready to plant.
- Scroll down to an orange rectangular box and click on “Handling & Plant Guidelines” for illustration on planting each of these types.
Planting containers
- Plant in March, May – November.
- Slide plant from pot by tapping on the bottom of the pot.
- With shovel or knife trim bottom 2" off of the root ball for plants in plastic containers.
- Rotate the plant to the proper position. Never lift or move plants by the tops.
- Place the root ball in the hole.
- Notice where the base of the trunk flairs out from the tree. This is called the root flair. This root flair should show when the tree is planted. If necessary, add soil under the ball so the root flair is exposed.
- Place fertilizer packets into the bottom of the hole (if purchased). *Use Our Recommended Fertilizer.
- Backfill the hole with soil, making sure the top of the root ball is visible and slightly higher than the soil around it.
- Firm the soil around the plant. Water well to settle soil around the root ball.
Pruning - After Planting
- Containers - Although it is not essential for containers to be pruned after planting, a light pruning for shape, to remove any broken branches from shipping, or to thin out a heavily branched plant will help in the transplanting process and in the appearance of your new planting.
Pruning - Through-out the Season
- See our “Videos” tab for an instructional video on when and how to prune ornamental grasses.
Watering - After Planting
- Plants typically take approximately 6 weeks to establish new roots in your soil. During this period, water plants as often as every 2-4 days at the start and at least a minimum of once per week.
- Beyond the 6 week establishment period, water once per week, unless rains occur.
- Stick your finger into the soil around 3” to check soil moisture.
Watering - Through-out the Season
- After the first season, plants should only be watered during extended periods without rain.
- How do you know if your plants need water? The easiest way to tell is to touch the soil around the roots. If it is moist, there is no need to water. If it is dry, give it a good soaking with the hose end (no nozzle) watering the soil only, not the leaves.
- Stick your finger into the soil around 3” to check soil moisture.
Go to our "Plant Features & Video Tab" for more information & tips on caring and maintaining this plant.
Special Features & Videos for Bluestem Native Ornamental Grasses
Special Plant Features & Tips
- The Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) is a warm season, clump forming grass.
- The blue-green foliage provides a great backdrop for the prairie flowers in summer, turning a striking crimson in fall.
- The fluffy silver seed heads add some real dazzle to the autumn landscape.
- A patch of Little Bluestem waving in the wind is truly a wondrous sight, resembling waves of the ocean on a bright and breezy fall day!
- It's a clump-forming grass that pairs nicely with prairie flowers.
- It grows two or three feet tall on well-drained sand and loam, and excels in dry sandy and rocky soils.
- Not recommended for heavy clay or damp soils.
- Be sure to plant in full sun for best results.
- Hardiness zone 4 (or possibly 3).
- See our “Videos” tab for an instructional video on when and how to prune ornamental grasses.
Ornamental Grasses in the Landscape

Since we grow all of our nursery stock our availability changes every year.The sizes listed below are not available for every product we offer.For example, perennials will typically only be offered in a #1 container size.Our larger nursery stock like evergreens and shade trees will typicallyonly come in large B&B (balled & burlap) sizes only. | ||||
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Popular Sizes | ||||
Item | Approx. Weight (lbs.) | Approx. Base Diameter | Approx. Height | Shipping Method |
#1 Container | 10 | 8" | 10" | FedEx |
#3 Container/Grow Bag | 25 | 10" | 15" | FedEx |
2' - 5' Bare Root | 5 - 35 | 5 - 15" | 2 - 5' | FedEx |
Containers/Grow Bags | ||||
Item | Approx. Weight (lbs.) | Approx. Base Diameter | Approx. Height | Shipping Method |
#1 Container | 10 | 8" | 10" | FedEx |
#2 Container | 15 | 12" | 12" | FedEx |
#3 Container/Grow Bag | 25 | 10" | 15" | FedEx |
#5 Container/Grow Bag | 40 | 14" | 10" | McKay Delivery* |
#7 Container/Grow Bag | 35 - 50 | 14 - 16" | 1 - 2' | McKay Delivery* |
#10 Container/Grow Bag | 55 - 70 | 18" | 1 - 3' | McKay Delivery* |
#15 Container/Grow Bag | 65 - 80 | 22" | 2 - 3' | McKay Delivery* |
#20 Container/Grow Bag | 100 - 160 | 24" | 7 | McKay Delivery* |
#25 Container/Grow Bag | 130 - 200 | 24 - 30" | 8' | McKay Delivery* |
Bare Root | ||||
Item | Approx. Weight (lbs.) | Approx. Base Diameter | Approx. Height | Shipping Method |
#1 & #1 1/2 Bare Root | 5 | 5 - 8" (no soil on roots) | 5 - 10" | FedEx |
12" Bare Root | 5 - 10 | 5" (no soil on roots) | 10 - 12" | FedEx |
15" Bare Root | 8 - 10 | 10 - 12" (no soil on roots) | 12 - 15" | FedEx |
18" Bare Root | 10 - 15 | 10 - 15" (no soil on roots) | 15 - 18" | FedEx |
2' Bare Root | 15 | 12" (no soil on roots) | 2' | FedEx |
3' Bare Root | 20 | 15" (no soil on roots) | 3' | FedEx |
4' Bare Root | 25 | 18" (no soil on roots) | 4' | FedEx |
5' Bare Root | 30 | 20" (no soil on roots) | 5' | FedEx |
6' Bare Root | 35 | 22" (no soil on roots) | 6' | McKay Delivery* |
8' Bare Root | 40 | 22 - 24" (no soil on roots) | 8' | McKay Delivery* |
9' Bare Root | 45 | 24 - 30" (no soil on roots) | 9' | McKay Delivery* |
1 3/4" caliper Bare Root | 50 | 30" (no soil on roots) | 5 - 6' | McKay Delivery* |
1 1/4" caliper Bare Root | 55 | 32" (no soil on roots) | 8 - 11' | McKay Delivery* |
1 1/2" caliper Bare Root | 60 | 32" (no soil on roots) | 10 - 12' | McKay Delivery* |
2 1/2" caliper Bare Root | 65 | 32 - 35" (no soil on roots) | 10 - 16' | McKay Delivery* |
Balled & Burlap (B&B) | ||||
Item | Approx. Weight (lbs.) | Approx. Base Diameter | Approx. Height | Shipping Method |
2' tall B&B | 50 | 12 - 16" | 2' | McKay Delivery* |
3' tall B&B | 60 - 250 | 22 - 24" | 4' | McKay Delivery* |
4' tall B&B | 250 | 22 - 24" | 5' | McKay Delivery* |
5' tall B&B | 325 | 16 - 24" | 5' | McKay Delivery* |
6' tall B&B | 150 - 325 | 24 - 30" | 6' | McKay Delivery* |
7' tall B&B | 500 - 700 | 30" | 7' | McKay Delivery* |
8' tall B&B | 600 - 700 | 30 - 32" | 8' | McKay Delivery* |
9' tall B&B | 700 | 30 - 35" | 9' | McKay Delivery* |
1 1/4" caliper B&B | 250 - 700 | 22" - 28" | 8 - 11' | McKay Delivery* |
1 1/2" caliper B&B | 350 - 600 | 24" - 30" | 10 - 12' | McKay Delivery* |
2" caliper B&B | 600 - 700 | 28" - 32" | 10 - 14' | McKay Delivery* |
2 1/2" caliper B&B | 700 - 1,000 | 30" - 36" | 10 - 16' | McKay Delivery* |
3" caliper B&B | 850 - 1,200 | 34" - 38" | 12 - 18' | McKay Delivery* |
3 1/2" caliper B&B | 1,000 - 1,200 | 36" | 3' | McKay Delivery* |
*McKay Delivery - This shipping method can only be used when your delivery address is within 60 miles of Waterloo, Wisconsin. McKay will hand delivery your nursery stock. We can delivey any size, but typically this shipping method is used for oversize items that FedEx cannot ship.
Growing Zones: 4-10
Bloom Time: | July - August |
Color: | Blue, Green |
Plant Size: | 2-3' tall x 2-3' wide |
Flower Color: | Silver seed heads |
Fall Color: | Red |
Sunlight: | Full Sun |
Soil Conditions: | Normal, Sandy, Acidic, Dry |
Low Maintenance: | Yes |
Deer Resistant: | No |
Attracts Butterflies: | No |
Attracts Bees: | No |
Attracts Birds: | No |
Edible: | No |
Native: | Yes |