Extension Communications Extension 4-H Youth Building Ames, Iowa 50011-3630 (515) 294-9915

10-21-04

Contacts:
Linda Naeve, Reiman Gardens, (515) 294-8946, lnaeve@iastate.edu
Del Marks, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515) 294-9807, delmarks@iastate.edu

Reiman's Pick for the week of October 18, 2004

Little Bluestem Plays a Big Role in a Fall Garden

By Linda Naeve
Reiman Gardens
Iowa State University

As described by many early authors and poets, pioneers walked through "waves" as they crossed the prairie over a hundred years ago - graceful waves of tall native grasses. One of those grasses, little bluestem, got its name from the bluish coloration seen at the base of its stems. Although called "little," the grass can reach four feet tall, yet is still short when compared to its relative, big bluestem, which grows up to eight feet tall. Both these native grasses make great screens and borders in a landscape.

Little bluestem, Schizachyrium scoparium, is a hardy, clump-forming, warm-season grass that prefers full sun and tolerates a wide range of soil conditions. In the summer, the foliage is bright green to almost blue, but becomes nearly burnt orange in the fall, allowing a gardener to add attractive diversity of color with one plant.

Flowers appear on little bluestem in late summer and create a showy display after drying in the fall. These soft fluffy flowers are scattered along the upper parts of the stem with a single, hairy flower cluster at the tip of each stalk.

You can view mass plantings of little bluestem in several garden areas at Iowa State University's Reiman Gardens.

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Editors: A color photo, suitable for publication, is available at right. Click on the thumbnail photo to go to the fullsized photo. The picture's fullsize photo is 584K. Caption: Although called "little," the grass can reach four feet tall, yet is still short when compared to its relative, big bluestem, which grows up to eight feet tall.

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