little bluestem ‘Blue Heaven’
Schizachyrium scoparium ‘Blue Heaven’. This member of the Poaceae is a cultivar of the native little bluestem grass that is a component of Midwestern tallgrass prairies. Growing up to 4 ft. tall and 2.5 ft. wide, ‘Blue Heaven’ thrives in well-drained soil and full-sun conditions. The cultivar is highly drought tolerant.
Little bluestem ‘Blue Heaven’ flowers in August, then give way to spectacular silvery-white tufts of seeds from late September onward, providing great winter interest and winter feeding for birds. The ‘Blue Heaven’ cultivar is a 2006 introduction from the University of Minnesota characterized by its strong and compact upright growth habit and deep blue-gray summer leaves that transition through burgundy in the fall to red with the onset of winter.
Although at Lurie Garden for only a few years, staff have found S. scoparium ‘Blue Heaven’ to be a great addition to the garden’s light plate. The cultivar’s strong upright habit and gray-tone color provides an excellent backdrop on which to interplant earlier-flowering species that benefit from vertical support, such as Dalea purpurea (purple prairie clover).
| Botanical Name | Schizachyrium scoparium ‘Blue Heaven’ |
| Common Name | little bluestem ‘Blue Heaven’ |
| Family | Poaceae |
| USDA Zone | 3 thru 9 |
| Light Requirement | Full Sun |
| Season(s) of interest | summer, fall, winter |
| Height and Spread | 2-4ft x 1.5-2ft (60-120cm x 45-60cm) |
| Flower Color | Inconspicuous Bronze-Purple |
| Attracts Wildlife | Provides Food for Birds, Hosts Caterpillars of Butterflies/Moths, |
| Additional Information | Cultivated Form of a Native Plant. |
| Location in Lurie Garden | Southwest Light Plate |
Average Flowering Time
