Schizachyrium scoparium 'Smoke Signal' (Little Bluestem) Unity Grown

Schizachyrium scoparium, commonly called little bluestem, is a native, perennial, warm-season grass that grows in small clumps about 2-4' tall and 1-2' wide with blue-gray to green, narrow-leaf grass-blade foliage. The 'Smoke Signal' cultivar is noted for its deep blue-purple colors with red tips on the leaf blades, which take on deeper hues of red and maroon in the fall; 'Smoke Signal' additionally improves upon previous cultivars by maintaining its strong upright stature through the fall and winter, even through driving snow. Beyond its ornamental value, little bluestem is a valuable cover plant for a variety of different wildlife and plays host to a number of developing butterfly and moth larvae. 

Little bluestem is a highly adaptable plant, proving tolerant to snow, rain, drought, flood, deer browsing, and a variety of soils including clay and saline conditions, but Schizachyrium scoparium generally does best in drier soils in full sun. Little bluestem is an upright and attractive addition to a variety of landscapes, and its multi-season interest and ecological appeal only add to its ornamental value.