The "Blue Heaven" cultivar of the Little Bluestem grass features very strong stems of blue-gray foliage that transitions to a blend of wine-red, pink and orange in the fall. The glossy-purple flower panicles become fluffy tan seedheads in fall and persist over winter, offering forage and refuge for beneficial insects and the birds that feast upon them.
Little Bluestem is native to the midwest prairies but a hardy and dependable plant throughout our region, too. It was recognized by the Perennial Plant Association as the 2022 Plant of the Year! It"s especially prized for its compact and reliably upright form, growing about 2-3 ft. tall & wide (plus an additional 10-12 in. when in flower). Adaptable to a wide range of soils- including very poor/infertile soils. Won"t accept standing water, and extremely drought tolerant once established. This clump-forming grass pairs well with mid-height and tall native and waterwise perennials, such as our native Douglas Aster (Symphyotrichum subspicatum), coneflowers (Echinacea), Liatris, and daylilies (Hemerocallis) - check out our sunny perennial offerings! As with most mid-sized to tall ornamental grasses, it"s deer-resistant and does best with a trimming back to a few inches above the ground in late-February or very early March (before the new flower shoots have formed, but after enjoying its lovely winter interest!).
The "Blue Heaven" cultivar of the Little Bluestem grass features very strong stems of blue-gray foliage that transitions to a blend of wine-red, pink and orange in the fall. The glossy-purple flower panicles become fluffy tan seedheads in fall and persist over winter, offering forage and refuge for beneficial insects and the birds that feast upon them.
Little Bluestem is native to the midwest prairies but a hardy and dependable plant throughout our region, too. It was recognized by the Perennial Plant Association as the 2022 Plant of the Year! It"s especially prized for its compact and reliably upright form, growing about 2-3 ft. tall & wide (plus an additional 10-12 in. when in flower). Adaptable to a wide range of soils- including very poor/infertile soils. Won"t accept standing water, and extremely drought tolerant once established. This clump-forming grass pairs well with mid-height and tall native and waterwise perennials, such as our native Douglas Aster (Symphyotrichum subspicatum), coneflowers (Echinacea), Liatris, and daylilies (Hemerocallis) - check out our sunny perennial offerings! As with most mid-sized to tall ornamental grasses, it"s deer-resistant and does best with a trimming back to a few inches above the ground in late-February or very early March (before the new flower shoots have formed, but after enjoying its lovely winter interest!).
