Schizachyrium Scoparium ‘Smoke Signal’ Little Bluestem

Schizachyrium scoparium ‘Smoke Signal’ is a warm season perennial grass that puts on a wonderful color show, turning from blue-green to deep red and purple in the summer and fall. Schizachyrium ‘Smoke Signal’ maintains its upright habit throughout the season. Also known as Little Bluestem or Beardgrass, this grass is a favorite for naturalized settings and meadows. White tufts of seed heads are very attractive along with its fall foliage. Remove these seed heads if self sowing is a problem. Little Bluestem is utilized by butterflies, songbirds, pollinators and other insects.

Schizachyrium scoparium is native to almost all the contiguous United States and the southern half of Canada. It is indigenous to prairies, meadows, savannas, rocky glades and other well-drained, even dry sites. It is often a dominant species in the short grass prairies of the Central and Great Plains as well as a major component of tall grass prairies. It was formerly known as Andropogon scoparius.

Schizachyrium scoparium ‘Smoke Signal’ prefers full sun and drier to moist, but well-drained soils. It dislikes wet soils, particularly in winter. It is great for hot, dry areas and is drought tolerant once established.