Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium

Family: Poaceae

Cespitose to rhizomatous bunchgrass reaching about 3’ tall usually but can get up to 5-6’ tall in prime conditions. Blueish green in warm season turning scarlet red in fall. Inflorescences appear June through October.

Full to part sun, best on irrigation.

The genus is distinguished from the similar and related genus Andropogon by the solitary rames; Andropogon species usually have more than one rame per inflorescence. The Schizachyriums in the southwest are incredibly similar to each other and quite difficult to tell apart using simple field-friendly traits.

As with most grass species, this species hosts many, many butterfly and moth larvae. This species is particularly attractive to Edwards's Skipperling (Oarisma edwardsii),

Stem ashes used against syphilitic sores, used as insulation in shoes, and as switches in sweat lodges.

Schizachyrium is Greek word, meaning divided or cut chaff flower, while sanguineum means blood red. There are about 61 species found worldwide.

Oak and juniper woodlands, pine forest, and mountain meadows, from 5,000-8,000 ft. in the intermountain, central, and eastern regions of North America from southern Canada to central Mexico.

Photo by Liz Makings, SEINET
Schizachyrium sanguineum on iNaturalist