Little Bluestem

Scientific Name: Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash

Little Bluestem

General Information
Usda Symbol	SCSC
Group	Monocot
Life Cycle	Perennial
Growth Habits	Graminoid
Native Locations	SCSC

Plant Guide

Description

General: Little bluestem is a tufted (sometimes with short rhizomes), warm season (C4), perennial grass broadly distributed and native to the U,S, and Canada, Because of this broad distribution, little bluestem exhibits significant ecotypic variation, Plants vary in height, color, length of leaves, flowering, and clump diameter (USDA, 1983; Uchytil, 1989), It grows from 1 to 3 feet tall with culms slightly flattened, The blades are folded, sometimes rolled inward, and smooth to hairy, They are 2 to 12 inches long, 1,5-6 mm wide, pointed with sheaths keeled and usually smooth, The ligule is a fringed membrane 0, Use soil moisture sensors to measure the soil moisture of Little Bluestem.,5-2,5 mm long, The culms terminate in a single raceme 1-3 inches long, The pediceled spikelets are 3-6 mm long with pedicels flattened, The awns of the fertile lemmas are 9-16 mm long, bent and twisted, The anthers are 2-4 mm long (Sedivec and Barker, 1997), Seed averages 225,000 to 250,000 bearded seeds per pound (Uchytil, 1989), Distribution: Little bluestem is found throughout the lower provinces of Canada and all states of the U,S,, except Nevada and Washington, For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS website, Habitat: This midgrass is a tallgrass prairie increaser and mixed prairie decreaser, Little bluestem typically occurs on dry upland sites, especially on ridges, hilltops, and steep slopes, It also occurs on limey sub-irrigated sites and in prairie fens, It is found in areas receiving 10 to 60 inches of mean annual precipitation and plant hardiness zones 3 to 9,

Adaptation

Little bluestem is adapted to soils ranging from sandy to clay-loam in texture. It begins growth in late spring after cool-season species have already developed (Uchytil, 1989). It has been observed that little bluestem phenology follows a well-defined pattern. Periods of active growth as well as stage of maturity are directly related to the length of the growing season (Miller, 1967; USDA, 1983).

Uses

Pasture/rangeland/prairie restoration: This species provides fair to good forage while young. It is rated fair for cattle and horses but is usually too coarse for sheep and goats. Ungrazed little bluestem plants with seed stalks often give the false impression of non-use for the plant community; however, shorter plants within a population have usually been grazed quite extensively. Crude protein is 12 to 14 percent in May, dropping off considerably in July through September to less than 4 percent (Sedivec and Barker, 1997). Little bluestem has been used extensively in prairie restoration projects primarily because of its adaptation to a diversity of sites, drought tolerance, growth habit, and wildlife appeal. Erosion control: Little bluestem has moderate drought tolerance and broad adaptation to diverse sites. It can form mats from short rhizomes on wetter sites although this species is usually thought of as a bunchgrass (clumps) on dry, upland sites. It is deep-rooted, and somewhat slow to establish from seed. Wildlife: Little bluestem is one of the best grasses for nesting and roosting habitat. The clump type of growth habit and many fine leaves at the base provide excellent nesting sites. The seeds are consumed by small mammals and birds, including upland Natural Resources Conservation Service Plant Guide Little bluestem plant game birds, rosy finches and juncos, as well as chipping, field, and tree sparrows. The seeds are of high value especially as a food source for birds that spend the winter on grasslands, such as prairie chickens and sharp-tailed grouse (Jones, 1963). Meadowlarks nest in areas where little bluestem grows. The dusky skipper butterfly caterpillars overwinter in tube tents above the base of the clumps (Knopf et al., 1997). Landscaping: Little bluestem is becoming more popular for home landscaping because it is a colorful and easy-care addition. New varieties are being developed that don’t lodge (falling over at the base) and are more disease resistant. New growth can be bluish, maturing to a reddish-gold color. The seed develops to a fluffy silver-white. The plumes are showy when seed has matured which adds interest to a cut arrangement. Frost accents the plants and the reddish tint provides color during the winter (Mahr, 2007). This is a prairie grass for the garden that is truly exceptional in mass plantings. Use in full sun.

Ethnobotany

Some tribes used little bluestem switches in ceremonial sweat lodges. The Lakota word means “small red grass”. Dried leaves and stems were rubbed into soft fiber for moccasin lining and insulation (Johnson and Larson, 1999).

Status

This plant may become weedy or invasive in some regions or habitats and may displace desirable vegetation if not properly managed. Please consult with your local NRCS Field Office, Cooperative Extension Service office, state natural resource, or state agriculture department regarding its status and use. Please consult the PLANTS website (http://plants.usda.gov/) and your state’s Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status (e.g., threatened or endangered species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

Planting Guidelines

Seedbed preparation should begin well in advance of planting. Establish a clean, weed-free seedbed by either tillage or herbicides. Prior to planting, the site should be firm and have accumulated soil moisture. Soil analysis should be performed prior to planting to determine necessary fertilizer applications. Little bluestem plantings should be scheduled during the spring at a rate of 3.4 - 4.5-pound pure live seed (PLS) per acre using a drill or broadcast seeder. If broadcast seeded, some type of additional coverage such as culti-packing or light dragging is recommended to ensure good seed-to-soil contact. Seed should be planted ⅛ to ¼ inch deep. It is better to plant too shallow than too deep.

Management

Little bluestem begins growth later in the spring after the cool-season species have already developed. It tolerates glyphosate when dormant, and other herbicides as labeled for grasses. Weed control can be accomplished by mowing, especially the first year when the planted grass is short. It is minimally affected by fire if burned dormant and changes little in frequency of occurrence due to fire. Little bluestem is relatively resistant to fire under moist conditions. The growing points (apical meristem) are slightly more than an inch above the soil surface (Uchytil, 1989). Little bluestem in the immature growth phase is considered a nutritional, palatable grass for all classes of livestock in June and early July in studies in North and South Dakota. Palatability is lower than many other native warm-season grasses, especially when seed stalks are present. Proper grazing management is critical to improve grazing efficiency. Little bluestem is an increaser under season long grazing systems. Higher stock densities such as rotational grazing systems will achieve greater use of more plants. Recommended stubble height of 3 to 4 inches is required to assure stand longevity. Although not usually recommended for hay production, little bluestem can make fair to good hay when part of a native hayland mixture (Sedivec et al., 2008). It is a popular species to include in prairie restoration seedings because of its wide adaptation and high wildlife value. Plants will sometimes die from the center out in the clump if the plants become too dry. Burning at the opportune time can help to reduce the population of cool season competing vegetation, as well as woody species.

Pests and Potential Problems

A leaf spot disease was found to be widespread in a little bluestem nursery established at Mandan, North Dakota, from plants collected in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota.Phyllosticta andropogonivora was consistently isolated from leaves showing leaf spot symptoms. The fungus was also isolated from native prairie plants. The fungus was pathogenic to little bluestem, big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), and sand bluestem (Andropogon halli) (Krupinsky and Tober, 1990).

Environmental Concerns

Concerns

Concerns

This grass is primarily a bunchgrass that will spread some by seed. The seed is light and fluffy, and it will move to adjacent areas. Bare soil may allow seed to germinate, but it is usually not a problem. Random plants in a natural landscape are usually not considered undesirable because it is a native species.

Control