Lakeshore Garden Centres Plant Finder

Group/Class:  Hit Parade™ Series

Description:

This impressive selection forms and upright, columnar clump of striking silver-blue stems; airy plumes that are also silver-blue appear in late summer, developing a hint of red as they mature into fall; perfect as a landscape accent, or along borders

Ornamental Features

Hit Parade™ Good Vibrations® Little Bluestem is primarily grown for its highly ornamental fruit. The brown seed heads are carried on showy plumes displayed in abundance from early to late fall. Its attractive grassy leaves are bluish-green in colour with hints of silvery blue. As an added bonus, the foliage turns gorgeous shades of brick red and plum purple in the fall. It features airy plumes of silvery blue flowers with brick red overtones rising above the foliage from late summer to early fall. The silvery blue stems are very colorful and add to the overall interest of the plant.

Landscape Attributes

Hit Parade™ Good Vibrations® Little Bluestem is an herbaceous perennial grass with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cut back to the ground in late winter before active growth resumes. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Hit Parade™ Good Vibrations® Little Bluestem is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Hit Parade™ Good Vibrations® Little Bluestem will grow to be about 30 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 15 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 12 inches apart. It tends to be leggy, with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and should be underplanted with lower-growing perennials. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 15 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under typical garden conditions. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It is not particular as to soil type, but has a definite preference for alkaline soils, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selection of a native North American species. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

This plant is not reliably hardy in our region, and certain restrictions may apply; contact the store for more information.