Little Bluestem

The best four-season native grass for a sunny, dry spot. summer blue, fall red, winter silver, and birds through January.

Little Bluestem is the prairie's most celebrated native grass, and for good reason. The upright blue-green summer foliage transforms to a rich, deep red-orange in fall that rivals any ornamental in the landscape. The fluffy white seedheads catch backlight in a way that makes a mass planting look lit from within on a fall afternoon. It's the grass people photograph, the grass that makes garden visitors ask what it is. Remarkably drought-tolerant, evolved for the Great Plains, where rainfall is unreliable and soils are often poor. Sandy, rocky, or clay soils are all acceptable. It thrives on neglect and looks better in lean soil than in rich amended beds. Plant it in masses of 5, 7, or more for the full prairie effect. Skipper butterflies lay eggs on the foliage, making this one of the most ecologically important garden grasses you can plant. The seed-laden stems attract songbirds through December. Cut it back in late winter and stand back: it almost takes care of itself.