Poaceae
Prairie beard grass
Schizachyrium scoparium
Also known as Andropogon divergens, Silver bluestem, Andropogon scoparius subvar. flexilis, Pollinia scoparia
Zones 3–10Sun Partial SunWater LowCare Low
Native Plants · Prairie · Native · Drought · Tolerant · Ornamental · Grass · Fall · Color · Xeriscaping
Pet-safeBeginner-friendlyAttracts pollinators
Currently out of stock everywhereStock updated 9/6/2026
Prairie beard grass is an extremely drought-tolerant native grass that requires minimal water once established. It thrives in poor soils and provides excellent fall color with bronze-orange foliage. This low-maintenance grass is perfect for prairie gardens and xeriscaping.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 4 hours
- Watering
- Deep watering until soil is saturated, then allow to dry completely · Every 14-21 days
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- sandy loam
- Soil pH
- 5.5–8.4
- Temperature
- -30°F to 105°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
Hardiness
USDA 3a-10b
12345678910111213
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 2 ft – 4 ft
- Spread
- 2 ft
- Spacing
- 12 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Deep
- Flowers
- No
- Foliage
- Medium
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Alabama, Alberta, Arkansas, British Columbia, California, Chile Central, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District Of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana
- Attracts
- Birds
Sources: trefle, usda
More Schizachyrium
Related plants from the same genus
Buy this plant
No nurseries currently list it
No nursery lists Prairie beard grass right now.