Schizachyrium scoparium 'Jazz'

Jazz Little Bluestem is a marvelous, short (to 2.5 ft), upright Schizachyrium scoparium with narrow (to ¼”), blue-green, flat blades that will not flop over, and which take on a bronzed orange hue in the fall. Purplish-bronze flowers in 3” long racemes rise above the foliage in August, and burst into clusters of fluffy, silvery-white seed heads, which often persist into winter.

Hardy and resilient, Schizachyrium scoparium 'Jazz' is adaptable and long-lived; and an integral part of many wild North American ecosystems – from the plains to open canopy regions in non-wetland terrestrial ecosystems. It will cope with almost any soil type as long as it is well-drained. Good drought tolerance once established. Tolerates high heat, humidity, and occasional flooding. Site in full sun.

Jazz creates dense, fibrous roots several feet deep, making it useful for erosion control and soil stabilization. It is wonderful along pathways, in short hedges, borders, rock gardens, wood margins, meadows or prairie-like settings. Group or mass. A good low-maintenance selection for sun-baked areas. Cut back hard in late fall.

Schizachyrium scoparium is native to Canada. It is very important to several butterfly and moth species. It is the larval host to the Cobweb Skipper, common wood nymph, Crossline Skipper, Dakota Skipper, Dusted Skipper, Indian Skipper, Leonard's Skipper, Ottoe Skipper, and Swarthy Skipper.