little bluestem
Andropogon scoparius 'Blaze'
Andropogon scoparius 'Blaze'
- SPRING 2025 PRE-ORDER
PLEASE KNOW: Plants shipped in early spring will likely arrive in a dormant state.
PLEASE KNOW: Plants shipped in early spring will likely arrive in a dormant state.
Our plants overwinter outdoors where they follow the natural rhythms of the season. We never force our plants to break dormancy early. Admittedly, early-leaf-out is customer pleasing, but it is bad practice both for the long-term health of the plant and for the environment. Plants shipped in early spring will very likely not be in full leaf. We grow in a cold area (zone 5), which means that customers in warmer climates will likely receive plants behind their own garden schedule. Not to worry though, healthy plants catch up quickly. Read more about Our Sustainable Practices here.
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Andropogon is a large genus of grasses that can be found across the globe. The species we grow are all attractive North American natives (or nativars) suitable for use in borders, erosion control, screening, and/or prairie plantings.
Little Bluestem, along with Big Bluestem, once dominated the American tallgrass prairie from Canada down to Arizona and Florida. We grow it today for the blue-tinted summer foliage, fall color, and attractive silvery seed heads.
'Blaze' has truly outstanding fall color. The foliage takes on purple tints in late summer before bursting into the most vivid shades of purple, red, and orange in fall.
Fun Fact: Native Americans once used the dried leaves of this species for winter insulation in their moccasins.
Tip: Little Bluestem tends to flop towards the end of the season. Plant it in full sun to avoid the problem.
Distinctions: Selected as Perennial Plant of the Year from the Perennial Plant Association
Zones: 3 to 9
Family: Poaceae
Type: Perennial
Height: 24 to 36 in.
Spread: 18 to 24 in.
Exposure: Full sun, part-shade
Soil Conditions: Dry, well-drained
Bloom Time: August to October
Bloom Color: Silver
Native Range: all US states except Nevada and Washington
ordering information
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PREORDERS
You may place your order anytime to reserve plants for spring 2025 shipment. If you place multiple orders, we will combine plants into one box (or as many as needed) and any extra shipping charges will be refunded when we ship.
We will begin shipping plants as soon as plants begin to emerge from dormancy in spring. Woodies will likely begin shipping in April. Perennials will likely begin shipping in May. If ordering multiple varieties, we will hold until all plants are ready to ship together. If you would like to receive plants sooner please reach out.
We will check in with you a week before shipping to make sure you receive your plants at a time that is convenient for you.
SHIPPING
Live plants ship in spring and fall only. Plants may ship dormant, depending on variety and season. Shipping costs are most reasonable when bundling like size plants.
- 4-inch: 1-6 plants ship for $15.00 / 7-13 plants ship for $18.00 / 14-30 plants ship for $40.00
- 1-gal: 1-2 plants ship for $18.00 / 3-4 plants ship for $25.00 / 5-6 plants ship for $40.00
- trees & shrubs: $27.00-$40.00 each, height dependent
We regret that we cannot ship internationally or to the following states: AK, AZ, CA, CO, FL, HI, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, or WA.
NURSERY PICK-UP
Plants can be collected from the nursery Monday through Sunday from 10am-4pm in Spring, Summer, and Fall. We prefer 24 hour notice to get your order together and will email you when ready for collection.
If you place a SPRING 2025 PREORDER, we will contact you in spring when your plants are ready for collection. Woodies will likely become available for collection in April. Perennials will likely become available in May. If ordering multiple varieties, we will hold until all plants are ready to be collected together.
PLANT SIZES
We most commonly use the following pot sizes for perennials:
- 4-inch pot: 3.5" H x 3.5" W x 3.5" D
- 2-quart pot: 6" H x 5.25" W x 5.25" D
- 1-gallon pot: 6.87" H x 8" Dia (this is a true one gallon pot, not the smaller 'trade' one gallon pot used by many nurseries)
Check out our illustrated pot size guide here.
Representative trees & shrubs are photographed in their pots and posted on each plant page.
SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainability is at the heart of what we do at The Old Dairy. We grow all of our plants outdoors without the use of chemicals, fertilizers, carbon fuels, or peat.
Many of our perennials are grown in the ground and dug upon order (this is especially true for larger sizes). This practice allows us to grow stronger, healthier plants using native soil, and ultimately reduces our impact on the environment.
Our open-pollinated seeds are collected from plants in our mother beds, which have never been treated with chemicals or sprays of any kind.