Little
Bluestem
(Schizachyrium scoparium)
Common
Names: Prairie Beardgrass Broom Beardgrass Old Man’s Beard Broom Beardgrass
General Information:
Little Bluestem is a very common, native,
warm-season grass that is found throughout the 48 contiguous states, with the exceptions
being the western most, coastal states. In comparison to many Native grasses, Little
Bluestem is fairly small; the normal height is about twenty inches but this height can be
exceeded on rich soil sites and lesser on poor sites. It is a clump forming grass that
will produce a fairly dense sod if left undisturbed.
Little Bluestem is drought resistant
due to an extensive, dense root system. It is often found on very poor sites and in the
eastern United States, it is found growing as an understory in the pine-deciduous forests.
However, as shade increases, Little Bluestem decreases. The seeds have been found in sites
that have been without a grassland present as long as 37 years later. The sites on which
Little Bluestem is found are generally considered poor and are slightly acidic with a pH
of 5.5 to 6 being the preferable level.
Little Bluestem is often confused with Broomsedge,
which is an Adropogon and former cousin before the genus of Little Bluestem was changed.
Broomsedge grows in areas of extremely poor land use practices, such as overgrazed
pastures and areas of extremely shallow soil. To differentiate between the two, go to the
base of the plant and look at the shoots. Little Bluestem shoots are flattened and pink in
color; Broomsedge shoots are yellowish in color. At maturity, Little Bluestem is reddish
in color with a blue tint; Broomsedge is golden. Little Bluestem will respond in a
positive way to fertilization; Broomsedge will die out when fertility is added to the
site.
Little Bluestem typically is found on dry, upland
sites and along hillsides and ridges. It grows from both seeds and tillers in areas that
receive from 10-40 inches of precipitation a year. Best growth is achieved when
temperatures range from 68-90 degrees Fahrenheit.
Establishment:
- For the best conservation practice, no-till the seed into the stubble
of a previous crop or the existing stand of another species that has been successfully
eradicated. Pay close attention to previous land use practices. If a row crop has been
planted for many years in succession a herbicide carryover is possible.
- If you feel you must plow up the site before planting, prepare your
seedbed like you would for any other crop. The seedbed needs to be firm, not fluffy, so
the seed will not be planted at an inappropriate depth. Use a cultipacker to firm your bed
or some other type of roller that will create a smooth planting area that is not too hard.
- Plant the seed no more than ½ inch deep. Emerging seedlings lack the
strength to push through too much overlying soil. More seed has been lost to poor planting
practices than anything else; this is especially true of seed depth.
- If weeds are a problem or a potential problem, consider using a
herbicide recommended for warm season grasses. WE MAKE NO RECOMMENDATIONS. FOLLOW
DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY. DO NOT TANK MIX A PESTICIDE WITH A HERBICIDE. REMEMBER MORE IS NOT
NECESSARILY BETTER.
- You can broadcast the seed onto a prepared seedbed. Roll Lightly. You
will probably need a carrier. Some people use a 0-13-13 fertilizer.
- If Little Bluestem is desired to be the dominant grass in a native
grass planting, increase the percentage to at least 50% of the mixture.
- Always avoid damp, poorly drained areas.
- Due to the fluffy nature of Little Bluestem seed, the chaffy seed
planter is the preferred equipment for planting. If broadcasting is the only option, a
carrier must be added to the seed. Use a soil test to determine which fertilizer is best.
(Avoid nitrogen).
MANAGEMENT:
We do not recommend the use of fertilizer
the first year, at least not nitrogen. Moderate levels of phosphorus and potassium are
beneficial, especially for root establishment, which is the primary activity of the plant
the first year. Use a soil test to help you decide the rate. Fertilizer may be applied the
second year to enhance vigor and production of forage. It is not necessary to fertilize at
all, but stand strength may be compromised without it.
- We recommend a controlled burn every 1-3 years if possible. If not,
then a mowing pattern should be established in order to control woody species invasion and
prevent thatch build up. If you mow, mow no lower than 8 inches and no later than August
1.
- Rotational grazing or flash grazing is another good management tool.
Care should be taken to prevent the livestock from grazing the warm season grass to a
level that would not rebound after grazing. Use 6 inches as your stopping point and a
re-growth of 12 inches before grazing begins again. This remaining stubble will assist
your stand in withstanding the cold, harsh conditions of winter.
Varieties or cultivars (improved releases)
- Aldous is from a collection made in 1953 from the Flint Hills of
Kansas. It is leafy, mid-tall, and late maturing in central latitudes. In general, it
produces better stands and is more productive than other selections. No northern or
northeastern selections are more adaptable or hardier than Aldous.
- Blaze
is a variety selected for its color from areas in Nebraska.
It is recommended for conservation plantings and permanent pasture mixes. It is later
maturing, quite leafy and somewhat taller than other varieties.
- Camper
is a long-lived perennial forage variety that produces
maximum vegetative growth in midsummer. It grows well under dry circumstances and is
slightly different in color from other varieties as it has a gray-green hue to the
foliage. The original collections were from Nebraska and Kansas in 1953.
- Cimmaron
was released from original collections in Oklahoma and
southwest Kansas. It produces significantly more forage even on the driest sites.
Performance has been good on all types of soils except in areas of high salinity and
alkalinity. Its best use has been in reseeding disturbed areas and reseeding areas
previously recognized as range land or native grass sites.
- Local ecotypes of Little Bluestem do well in drier areas because of
efficient use of whatever moisture is available. They require very little maintenance.
When available, these local ecotypes will have been harvested in Missouri, Kansas,
Oklahoma and Texas.
Preferred planting time:
- In the spring around the end of April or first of May. You can plant
as late as June 15 if moisture is adequate.
- Dormant planting can be done from December – February
- Planting rate is 6-8 PLS pounds per acre in stands created for
wildlife. A higher rate should be planted for forage.
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Bros Seed Co
Sharp Brothers Seed Co.
396 SW Davis St. - LaDue
Clinton, Missouri 64735
Phone: 1-800-451-3779
or Phone: 1-660-885-7551
Contact: General inquiries use our contact form.
Also visit Sharp Bros. Healy's website at
www.sharpseed.com
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