'Twilight Zone' Schizachyrium scoparium (Little Bluestem)

Cultivar Notes -

Twilight Zone

The foliage of schizachyrium ‘Twilight Zone’ has an iridescent purplish-mauve cast that peaks in midsummer. Bright purple highlights appear in late fall. Though native Schizachyriums typically color up in fall, the new ‘Twilight Zone’ possesses a nearly iridescent silvery mauve purple cast all over the whole plant beginning in midsummer. It retains these eerily beautiful tones through fall when brighter purple highlights appear on the flower stems. The attractive foliage forms a strictly upright, narrowly columnar clump that is about half as wide as it is tall.

This grass would be stunning in combination with silver foliage plants like Silver Mound Artemisia in a sunny, hot, dry spot in the landscape.

Series Notes -

Warm Season Grasses

Warm season grasses grow most actively during the warmer months, then flower in late summer or fall. Most go completely dormant in winter. Warm season grasses include: Andropogon, Calamagrostis brachytricha, Carex, Cortaderia, Erianthus, Hakonechloa, Miscanthus, Panicum, Pennisetum, Schizachyrium, and Sporobolus.

Other Plants in the Warm Season Grasses Series available this season at Vite Greenhouses

Japanese Forest Grass
'Aureola'

Big Bluestem
'Blackhawks'

Little Bluestem
'Blue Paradise'

Japanese Silver Grass
'Cosmopolitan'

Big Bluestem
'Dancing Wind'

Striped Eulalia Grass
'Dixieland'

Maiden Grass
'Fire Dragon'

Maiden Grass
'Gold Breeze'

Maiden Grass
'Gracillimus'

Dwarf Fountain Grass
'Hameln'

Hardy Pampas Grass
'Hardy Pampas Grass'

Switch Grass
'Heavy Metal'

Maiden Grass
'High Frequency'

Maiden Grass
'Huron Sunrise'

Ornamental Millet
'Jade Princess'

Oriental Fountain Grass
'Karley Rose'

Little Dwarf Zebra Grass
'Little Zebra'

Maiden Grass
'Morning Light'

Maiden Grass
'Oktoberfest'

Miniature Fountain Grass
'Piglet'

Ornamental Millet
'Purple Baron'

Ornamental Millet
'Purple Majesty'

Big Bluestem
'Rain Dance'

Prairie Dropseed
'Sporobolus'

Porcupine Grass
'Strictus'

Little Bluestem
'The Blues'

Striped Eulalia Grass
'Variegatus'

Pampas Grass
'White Pampas Grass'

Genus Notes -

Schizachyrium

A short native clumping grass noted for its blue summer foliage and bright fall color. Excellent for massing or naturalizing as a ground cover. Drought tolerant and prefers poorer soils.

Schizachyrium is a great choice if you are looking to restore an eroded site, or for a plant that will grow in hot, dry areas where other plants have a hard time surviving.

Little Bluestem ‘Twilight Zone’Schizachyrium scoparium (‘Warm Season Grasses’ Series)

Little Bluestem ‘Twilight Zone’
Schizachyrium scoparium (‘Warm Season Grasses’ Series)