Schizachyrium scoparium 'Sandhill' (Little Bluestem) Unity Grown

Schizachyrium scoparium ‘Sandhill’ is a beautiful upright cultivar of little bluestem, a native warm season perennial grass that grows in graceful clumps. The ‘Sandhill’ cultivar of little bluestem grows fairly large among little bluestem cultivars, to a mature size of 4-4.5’ tall with a spread of 18-24”; named for the majestic sandhill crane, Schizachyrium scoparium ‘Sandhill’ is noted for its firmly upright habit and graceful, arching foliage with wider grass blades than other varieties. Similar to several other bluestems, ‘Sandhill’ foliage emerges in the spring with a blue-green hue, but as the summer progresses, the cultivar picks up iridescent silvery, lavender purple tones which pair well with the grass’s pink to purplish-bronze flower spikes. Schizachyrium scoparium ‘Sandhill’ prefers full sun sites, though it will tolerate some morning or afternoon shade, and performs best in medium to dry well-drained soils. 

The ’Sandhill’ cultivar makes for a highly dependable choice in tougher spots of the home garden, proving tolerant to intense heat and drought, salt exposure, deer damage, and even compacted clay soils. Schizachyrium scoparium ‘Sandhill’ is an excellent ornamental little bluestem selection, and is well-regarded for use in rain and rock gardens, and though its flowers do not attract pollinators, ‘Sandhill’ is additionally a food source for several songbird species in the fall and winter and acts as an important host plant for several species of butterfly, including Leonard's Skipper (Hesperia leonardus) and the Indian Skipper (Hesperia sassacus), both of which are endangered in Maryland.