Little Bluestem is one of the most widely adapted perrennial grasses in America, and grows well on a variety of soil types, including deep, shallow, sandy, fine textured, and rocky sois. It is a bunch type, native, warm-season, perennial mid grass, with a dense root system, and may reach heights of from 2 to 4 feet tall. Little Bluestem can be identified by its flat, bluish-colored basal shoots and its leaf blades which tend to fold.
Mature plants have a reddish cast after frost.
Little Bluestem in more drought resistant than Big Bluestem, and can be found in more drier areas of the Grate Plains than can Big Blue. Little Bluestem can be spread by seed, tillers, and underground rootstocks. It produces an abundence of high quality, palatable forage that is used for both hay and pasture. Little Blue should not be grazed closer than 4 to 6 inches during the growing season. The seed can be harvested in late September and October, with a combine, and seeded alone or in mixtures with tall and short grasses.