Little Bluestem (Andropogon Scoparius)

Little Bluestem is a native, warm season perennial, medium height grass. Growth begins in early April, growing two to three feet tall. Planting rate is 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 pure live seed pounds per acre 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep. 

The seed are chaffy and require a chaffy grass drill to be planted accurately. The dense root system may reach five to eight feet in depth. It spreads by seeds, tillers and short underground rootstocks. The flat bluish colored leaves become leathery brown at maturity. 

It provides nutritious grazing during the growing season and is a high forage producer. The seed of Little Bluestem is small and fuzzy with twisted awns. Little Bluestem is native to all of the United States with the exceptions of California, Washington, Oregon and Nevada. It is found on most range sights in both low and high elevations, growing well on deep, shallow, sandy, fine textured and rocky soils. 

The best known varieties are as follows. "Aldous" was released in 1966. It was selected for abundant forage production under favorable conditions. "Blaze" was selected for its late maturity and green leafy character. "Cimmeron", a composite of many strains, is used throughout the United States. It is used for its abundantly leafy forage productions and forage quality, "Pastura", released in 1963, has fairly uniform growth, excellent
seedling vigor and is cold tolerant, It is an average forage producer.