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| ## coastal little bluestem {#coastal-little-bluestem .Title-Header}   |
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| *Schizachyrium littorale* (Nash) Bickn.                               |
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| Plant Symbol = SCLI11                                                 |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center, Cape May, New Jersey

![](media/image2.wmf)Chris Miller, USDA NRCS Cape May PMC

##### Alternate Names {#alternate-names .Header-3}

Seacoast bluestem, *Andropogon littoralis*, *Andropogon scoparius* var.
*littoralis*, *Schizachyrium scoparium* var. *littoralis*

##### Uses {#uses .Header-3}

*Dune Stabilization*: Coastal little bluestem is useful for adding plant
diversity to frontal back dune and secondary dune systems. It is
especially well-suited for stabilizing back dune "blow-out" areas.

*Wildlife*: This plant provides cover for ground birds and small
mammals.

*Landscaping*: With its blue-green leaves during the growing season and
attractive rusty color with white fluffy seed heads in the fall, coastal
little bluestem is useful as an ornamental planting in coastal
landscapes. Because of natural physiological tolerance to hot, dry soils
with little fertility, this plant is an excellent choice for "low input"
sustainable landscape designs.

##### Status {#status .Header-3}

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status (e.g. threatened or endangered
species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

##### Description and Adaptation {#description-and-adaptation .Header-3}

Coastal little bluestem occurs almost exclusively along the coastal
strip from southern New England to Texas. It is a short (1-2 foot) bunch
grass with coarse blue-green stems and basal leaves which often appear
purplish. Coastal little bluestem is very similar to the inland little
bluestem but can be distinguished by the bent stems at the base, whereas
little bluestem stems are erect. Leaves are smooth but frequently are
covered with hair at the base next to the sheath. Leaves tend to fold
with maturity. Seed head clusters are about three inches long and
consist of a number of short, silvery hairs (awns) when the seeds are
ripe. In the late summer to early fall a low sun slanting across the
seed heads of this grass give the plant a frosty appearance. As a warm
season grass, it begins growth in late spring and continues through the
hot summer period until the first killing frost. The entire plant has a
reddish cast after frost. Ragged brownish-tan stems often persist
through the winter.

For a current distribution map, please consult the Plant Profile page
for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

*Adaptation*: Coastal little bluestem is very well adapted to dry, well
to excessively drained, infertile secondary dunes. It does not tolerate
large amounts of sand accretion. This grass has excellent drought
tolerance once established, some salt spray tolerance and poor flood
tolerance. It grows preferentially on sites with pH 7.0 and slightly
higher.

##### Establishment {#establishment .Header-3}

Seeding methods for this species have not been developed for back dune
stabilization. Chopping stems with mature seed attached into the sand
may result in some natural recruitment. However, the most reliable
method of establishment is planting plugs of this species on a 2-3 foot
spacing between rows of American beachgrass (*Ammophila breviligulata*).

**Management**

*Fertilizer*: For decades managers of coastal resources have had to
develop cost effective techniques for applying fertilizer to literally
miles of sand dunes. Most coastal municipalities have used aerial
application of fertilizers applied in accordance with recommendations
for American beachgrass (*Ammophila breviligulata*), since it is the key
frontal dune species that intercepts the brunt of coastal storm
energies. It appears that the fertilization recommendations for American
beachgrass serve the plant needs of multiple species within the same
eco-system application.

Fertilize coastal little bluestem in nurseries, the ornamental
horticultural industry and in home owner settings using the soil test
recommendations of the local county extension service. Apply fertilizer
in accordance with soil test results. If the soils lab does not maintain
recommendations specifically for this species, they may use guidelines
for similar species such as little bluestem (*Schizachyrium scoparium*)
or other native warm season grass.

Multiple passes with a flail-vac sweeper stripper has proven to be very
effective in collecting seed from this species.

##### Pests and Potential Problems {#pests-and-potential-problems .Header-3}

There are no known serious pests of coastal little bluestem.

##### Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin) {#cultivars-improved-and-selected-materials-and-area-of-origin .Header-3}

A Mid-Atlantic ecotype of coastal bluestem is currently under
development by the Cape May Plant Materials Center.

##### Prepared By & Species Coordinators:  {#prepared-by-species-coordinators .Header-3}

William B. Skaradek, USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center, Cape May, New
Jersey

And

Christopher F. Miller, USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center, Cape May, New
Jersey

##### Edited: 070123 jsp; 070209; 070808 jsp {#edited-070123-jsp-070209-070808-jsp .Header-4}

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

*The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in
all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national
origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual
orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases
apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication of program information (Braille,
large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA\'s [TARGET
Center](http://www.usda.gov/oo/target.htm) at 202-720-2600 (voice and
TDD).*

*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice or
TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.*

*Read about [Civil Rights at the Natural Resources Convervation
Service](http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/civilrights/).*