Little Bluestem 'Little Red Fox' is a native North American prairie grass that once dominated the vast tallgrass ecosystems stretching from Alberta to Quebec and south to Arizona and Florida. This ornamental grass grows 24 to 48 inches tall with upright clumps of slender, flat green leaves that transform into striking fall and winter color. Hardy from zones 3 to 9, it thrives in full sun with moderate water needs and low maintenance once established, making it a resilient choice for rain gardens, erosion control, and urban landscapes where few other plants succeed.
Full Sun
Moderate
3-9
48in H x 24in W
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Moderate
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Slender green foliage rises in tight clumps before shifting to warm russets and deep reds as temperatures drop, creating months of visual interest from August through February. Its showy fruit adds texture and movement even as the plant bleeds into winter dormancy. Little Bluestem handles drought, shallow rocky soil, and black walnut toxicity with ease, while remaining completely deer-proof. Birds flock to it for seed and shelter. Once you plant it in full sun, it asks almost nothing of you.
Little Bluestem serves landscape and ecological purposes: stabilizing slopes and preventing erosion, filtering and managing water in rain gardens, and providing late-season structure and color in naturalistic garden designs. Its seed attracts birds seeking winter food and shelter. In restoration work, it rebuilds prairie ecosystems and supports native pollinator and wildlife habitat.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Cut Little Bluestem to the ground in late winter to early spring. This renewal pruning removes accumulated dead foliage, encourages vigorous new growth, and prevents the plant from becoming overgrown or woody.
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“Little Bluestem was one of the foundation grasses of the North American tallgrass prairie, a vast ecosystem that once covered rich and fertile soils throughout the central continent. These prairies shaped the landscape from Alberta to Quebec, stretching south to Arizona and Florida. Native to prairies, limestone glades, clearings, and open woods, this grass evolved to thrive in conditions that would defeat most ornamental plantings: poor soils, extreme heat, prolonged drought, and wind. Its presence in these ancient grasslands speaks to millennia of adaptation and ecological resilience, making it a living connection to pre-settlement North America.”