Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)

Blue Grama (Bouteloua gracilis) | $6.99 | 4-inch pot

🌿 Quick Facts: • Native Status: Native to North America • USDA Growing Zones: 3-10 • Height: 12-18 inches • Spread: 12-18 inches

🌺 Bloom Details: • Season: Mid to late summer • Colors: Purple-tinged seedheads • Flower Type: Eyelash-like spikes • Bloom Period: July-September

☀️ Growing Requirements: • Sun: Full sun • Water: Very low • Soil: Well-draining, adaptable • Spacing: 12-18 inches apart

🦋 Pollinator Benefits: • Birds: Seeds and shelter • Native Bees: Nesting habitat • Butterflies: Larval host • Beneficial Insects: Cover

🌱 Plant Care: • Spring: Cut back old growth • Summer: No additional care needed • Fall: Leave for winter interest • Winter: Evergreen in mild winters

🤝 Companion Planting: • Perfect paired with:

• Blanketflower

• Prairie Zinnia

• Penstemons

• Chocolate Flower

✨ Unique Characteristics: • Colorado State Grass • Drought tolerant • Unique flower heads • Year-round interest • Low maintenance

Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) | $6.99 | 4-inch pot

🌿 Quick Facts: • Native Status: Native to North America • USDA Growing Zones: 3-9 • Height: 2-4 feet • Spread: 1-2 feet

🌺 Bloom Details: • Season: Late summer to fall • Colors: Blue-green to copper-red • Flower Type: Feathery seedheads • Bloom Period: August-October

☀️ Growing Requirements: • Sun: Full sun • Water: Low • Soil: Well-draining, adaptable • Spacing: 18-24 inches apart

🦋 Pollinator Benefits: • Birds: Winter food and shelter • Native Bees: Nesting material • Butterflies: Larval host • Beneficial Insects: Year-round habitat

🌱 Plant Care: • Spring: Cut back to 4-6 inches • Summer: No additional care needed • Fall: Leave for winter interest • Winter: Provides wildlife shelter

🤝 Companion Planting: • Perfect paired with:

• Prairie Coneflower

• Butterfly Milkweed

• Blazing Star

• Prairie Dropseed

✨ Unique Characteristics: • Four-season interest • Beautiful fall color • Native prairie grass • Erosion control • Winter structure

Great Basin Wildrye (Leymus cinereus) | $12.99 | 4-inch pot

🌿 Quick Facts: • Native Status: Native to western North America — native to Colorado • USDA Growing Zones: 4-9 • Height: 3-6 feet (to 8 feet with moisture) • Spread: 18-36 inches (bunching, non-spreading)

🌺 Bloom Details: • Season: Late spring to midsummer; seed ripens late summer • Colors: Green maturing to tan & straw-gold • Flower Type: Tall, narrow, erect spike-like heads above blue-gray foliage • Bloom Period: June-July

☀️ Growing Requirements: • Sun: Full sun • Water: Very low to low (drought tolerant) • Soil: Deep sandy, loamy or clay soils; notably tolerant of saline & alkaline ground • Spacing: 18-24 inches apart

🦋 Pollinator Benefits: • Birds: Seed for songbirds; tall clumps give excellent winter cover for game birds • Native Bees: Wind-pollinated — no nectar, but clumps provide nesting shelter • Butterflies: Larval host for grass-feeding skippers • Beneficial Insects: Standing clumps overwinter predatory beetles, spiders & parasitoid wasps

🌱 Plant Care: • Spring: Cut back old foliage to about 6 inches before new growth; starts early • Summer: May go semi-dormant in heat — normal; do not overwater • Fall: Leave the clump for structure and cover; divide in early fall if needed • Winter: Fully hardy; leave standing for winter form

🤝 Companion Planting: • Perfect paired with:

• Blue Grama
• Sand Dropseed
• Blanketflower
• Rabbitbrush

✨ Unique Characteristics: • Largest cool-season native bunchgrass in the West — real vertical architecture • Striking blue-gray foliage • Handles saline & alkaline soil most grasses reject • Superb winter wildlife cover • Non-spreading clump

Alkali Sacaton (Sporobolus airoides) | $9.99 | 4-inch pot

🌿 Quick Facts: • Native Status: Native to North America (incl. Colorado) • USDA Growing Zones: 4-9 • Height: 2-3 feet (to 5 feet in bloom) • Spread: 2-3 feet (bunching)

🌺 Bloom Details: • Season: Summer to fall • Colors: Airy pink-tan to golden panicles • Flower Type: Open, cloud-like plumes • Bloom Period: June-October

☀️ Growing Requirements: • Sun: Full sun to part shade • Water: Low (drought tolerant once established) • Soil: Adaptable; tolerates alkaline, saline & clay soils • Spacing: 18-24 inches apart

🦋 Pollinator Benefits: • Birds: Seeds feed songbirds • Native Bees: Nesting habitat & cover • Butterflies: Larval host for skippers • Beneficial Insects: Overwintering shelter

🌱 Plant Care: • Spring: Cut back old growth before new green appears • Summer: No supplemental water needed • Fall: Leave plumes for seeds & texture • Winter: Dormant; leave standing for interest

🤝 Companion Planting: • Perfect paired with:

• Blue Grama
• Blanketflower
• Little Bluestem
• Penstemons

✨ Unique Characteristics: • Graceful cloud-like seed plumes • Thrives in tough alkaline & salty soils • Exceptional drought tolerance • Excellent for erosion control & xeriscape • Low maintenance