Little bluestem vs Switchgrass 'Shenandoah'
Two native prairie grasses that are often planted together. Little bluestem is the shorter, a clump of blue-green blades that turns copper-orange in autumn and stays that colour all winter. Switchgrass is taller and airier, with a haze of tiny flowers in late summer; 'Shenandoah' has red-tipped leaves by midsummer.
 Little bluestemSchizachyrium scoparium |  Switchgrass 'Shenandoah'Panicum virgatum 'Shenandoah' | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 3 ft tall, 18 in wide | 4 ft tall, 24 in wide |
| Plant | 18 in apart | 24 in apart |
| Zones | 3 to 9 | 4 to 9 |
| Light | Full sun | Full sun |
| Soil | Dry and sharply drained, lean fertility | Well-drained, average fertility |
| Flowers | Early August to mid September; tan | Late July to mid September; pink |
| Leaves | Fine, herbaceous | Fine, herbaceous |
| Job in a bed | Drift | Accent |
| Pets | No toxicity recorded | No toxicity recorded |
| Deer | Resistant | Resistant |
| Native | Yes | Variety of a native |
| Spread | Low risk | Low risk |
Rows where they differ are marked. Flowering times are for zone 5.
Which to choose
- Choose little bluestem for colder gardens (to zone 3) and more wildlife.
Can they grow together?
Yes: they grow in the same conditions. They share full sun and zones 4 to 9.
Read more: all about little bluestem, and all about switchgrass 'Shenandoah', each with a bed the planner designed around it.