Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
North America, United States, Canada
North America, Canada, Mexico
Types
Schizachyrium scoparium
Panicum abscissum, Panicum acostia, Panicum amarum
Habitat
Hillside, Prairies, Roadsides
Prairies
USDA Hardiness Zone
2-7
4-9
AHS Heat Zone
7 - 1
9 - 1
Sunset Zone
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23
Habit
Upright/Erect
Upright/Erect
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Leaf Color in Spring
Blue Green, Gray Green
Green, Light Green, Blue Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Yellow, Red, Bronze, Orange Red
Red, Green, Orange, Blue Green, Gray Green, Bronze
Leaf Color in Winter
Tan, Bronze
Tan, Sandy Brown
Leaf Shape
Grass like
Grass like
Plant Season
Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Average
Bloom Time
Summer, Late Summer
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Tolerances
Drought
Pollution, Soil Compaction
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Divison, Seedlings
Divison, Root Division
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Requirements
Requires watering in the growing season
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Requires regular watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Ample Water
Moderate
In Winter
Ample Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
No pruning needed in the early stages, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Prune in spring, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove deadheads
Fertilizers
No fertilizers needed
Nitrogen
Pests and Diseases
fungus, Leaf spot
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Pollution, Soil Compaction
Flowers
Insignificant
Yes
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Fine
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Attracts
Bees
Birds, Wildlife
Aesthetic Uses
-
Showy Purposes
Edible Uses
No
Insignificant
Environmental Uses
Erosion control, Wildlife
Air purification, Provides ground cover, soil erosion prevension on hill slopes
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
Leaves
Other Uses
-
Cattle Fodder, Used as Biofuel
Used As Indoor Plant
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Dried Flower / Everlasting, Cutflower, Dried Flower/Everlasting, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Wildflower
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border
Botanical Name
SCHIZACHYRIUM scoparium
PANICUM virgatum
Common Name
Little Bluestem
Switchgrass
In Hindi
little bluestem
Switchgrass
In German
wenig bluestem
Switchgrass
In French
barbon
switchgrass
In Spanish
Poco bluestem
switchgrass
In Greek
Μικρή bluestem
switchgrass
In Portuguese
pouco bluestem
switchgrass
In Polish
trochę bluestem
switchgrass
In Latin
parum bluestem
switchgrass
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Cyperales
Cyperales
Genus
Schizachyrium
Panicum
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Tribe
Andropogoneae
Paniceae
Subfamily
Panicoideae
Panicoideae
Season and Care of Little Bluestem and Switchgrass
Season and care of Little Bluestem and Switchgrass is important to know. While considering everything about Little Bluestem and Switchgrass Care, growing season is an essential factor. Little Bluestem season is Summer, Fall and Winter and Switchgrass season is Summer, Fall and Winter. The type of soil for Little Bluestem is Loam, Sand and for Switchgrass is Clay, Loam, Sand while the PH of soil for Little Bluestem is Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline and for Switchgrass is Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline.
Little Bluestem and Switchgrass Physical Information
Little Bluestem and Switchgrass physical information is very important for comparison. Little Bluestem height is 60.00 cm and width 30.00 cm whereas Switchgrass height is 150.00 cm and width 90.00 cm. The color specification of Little Bluestem and Switchgrass are as follows:
Little Bluestem flower color:
Little Bluestem leaf color: Blue Green and Gray Green
Switchgrass flower color: Green
- Switchgrass leaf color: Green, Light Green, Blue Green and Gray Green
Care of Little Bluestem and Switchgrass
Care of Little Bluestem and Switchgrass include pruning, fertilizers, watering etc. Little Bluestem pruning is done No pruning needed in the early stages, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches and Remove dead leaves and Switchgrass pruning is done Prune in spring, Remove dead or diseased plant parts and Remove deadheads. In summer Little Bluestem needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Ample Water. Whereas, in summer Switchgrass needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water.