Creeping little bluestem
Schizachyrium stoloniferum
Last reviewed: August 2026

Toxicity unknown
Creeping little bluestem (Schizachyrium stoloniferum) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
18"–36" H × 24"–36" W
Bloom
Sep, Oct, Nov
Native to
AL, FL, GA, MS and 2 more states
Pollinators
wind-pollinated
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaBrowse plants for this ecoregion
A creeping bunchgrass with blue-green summer foliage that turns coppery bronze in fall, spreading slowly by underground stems on dry sandy sites. Fluffy tan seed heads appear in autumn.
Wildlife value
Fall seed heads feed sparrows and other seed-eating birds, and the grassy cover shelters ground-nesting insects.
Common questions
- How much sun does Creeping little bluestem need?
- Creeping little bluestem grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Creeping little bluestem bloom?
- Creeping little bluestem blooms in September, October, and November.
- Where is Creeping little bluestem native?
- Creeping little bluestem (Schizachyrium stoloniferum) is native to AL, FL, GA, MS and 2 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- What pollinators does Creeping little bluestem attract?
- Creeping little bluestem draws wind-pollinated.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Creeping little bluestem? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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