little bluestem

Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) is a forage grass native to eastern and central North America. It belongs to the genus Andropogon, which includes about 100 species of grasses found in temperate and tropical regions. These grasses can be annual or perennial and are often used for hay and forage.12

Bluestems are characterized by coarse, sometimes tufted growth with flat or folded leaves and solid or pithy stems that can be hairy and reddish or greenish. Some species spread via underground stems called rhizomes. Little bluestem typically grows between 0.5 to 1.5 meters (1.6 to 5 feet) tall and is found in dry prairie areas.2