Native / Warm season

Little Bluestem

Native grass matrix for dry pollinator gardens and meadow edges.

Grown for structure, wildlife cover, and habitat.

Seed spacing and maturity

Days to maturity
365
Germination temperature
60-80F
Seed depth
0.25 inches
Spacing
18 inches
Row spacing
24 inches
Start method
Direct sow

Frost-date timing

Direct sow
14 days before last frost
Fall planting
10 weeks before first frost

Action plan

Can I plant this now?
Use your local last-frost, first-frost, and soil-temperature checks before treating this crop as plantable today.
Start indoors or direct sow?
Direct sow into the final bed when the soil temperature, seed depth, and moisture are ready.
How much space?
18 inches in-row spacing, 24 inches between rows, and 0.25 inch seed depth.
Best companions?
Use this as part of a diverse flowering or herb planting, and treat companion claims as site-specific rather than guaranteed pest control.
Common failure modes?
Do not overwater or overfertilize; lush soil can make plants floppy. Low water after establishment. Lean to average, well-drained soil.

Growing profile

Sun
Full sun
Water
Low water after establishment.
Soil
Lean to average, well-drained soil.
Watch
Do not overwater or overfertilize; lush soil can make plants floppy.
  • native
  • grass
  • habitat
  • perennial

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Related varieties

Source: Xerces pollinator-friendly native plant lists