It has been located in several Michigan counties. Little Bluestem is a native warm-season perennial grass. Growth begins in early April, with seed stalks from 2 to 4 feet tall appearing from late August to October. It can be identified by its flat, bluish-colored basal shoots and leaf blades, which tend to fold. Since it is a bunch grass, little Bluestem does not spread by runners but will produce seedlings in the spring, which may be weeded out to contain its spread.
Most grasses have hollow stems, but the bluestems have pithy stems like corn.
Broomsedge, Andropogon virginicus, looks very much like Little Bluestem in the summer but has a less fine appearance in the fall and a soft, golden-tan color. It has a coarse, shallow-feeding root system and may often be pulled up by hand. According to Edward Voss's Michigan Flora Part 1, it is much less common in Michigan than the other bluestems. Farmers consider it a poor range plant, and it is not relished by livestock. In areas where it is common, it is one of the first perennials to move into old sandy fields, and if undisturbed, may form a solid, pure stand.