Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium

Easy

Starting indoors

Use well-draining seed starting medium. Plant about 1/4 inch & cover with soil. Keep slightly moist but not wet. With correct temperatures it germinates in ~1 to 3 weeks. Transplant seedlings to preferred area. Plant is perennial so will persist year after year

Direct sowing

Start as early in the season as possible (January - March) to allow plant time to establish a strong root-system.  Wait until night temps are about 50 F. Plant 1/4 inch or scatter seeds & cover. With correct temperatures it germinates in ~1 to 3 weeks

Easy

Plant will turn brown and brittle. Put stocks between fingers & gently pull up to take seeds off the plant. Only harvest about 20% of a healthy plant. Place seeds into brown paper bag to store in a dark, cool, dry area

🌅 Outdoors
Can be grown in containers that have adequate drainage holes. May require slightly more watering than if planted in the ground but not much more

☀️ Full Sun

• Temps: 🌡️ Thrives when temps are about 80 F but can grow well in slightly lower temps

• Hardiness Zones: 🗺️ 3 to 9 (2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map - Michigan)

• Humidity: 🌫️Tolerant of dry & humid heat

• Water Conditions: 💧 Younger plants require a weekly light watering but once established these plants are drought tolerant. If are receives adequate rainfall, less watering is required

• pH: 🧪 Acid to neutral to alkaline  

• Soil conditions: 🌱 Well-draining. Tolerates clay soils and occassional flooded conditions

Summer to fall

Over-watering can lead to lodging and weak stems

Recommended: Connect to Seeds2Community events for in depth knowledge of planting and care techniques for native plants