Chameleon Little Bluestem

Schizachyrium scoparium 'Chameleon'

$43⁵⁸

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Plant Size

#1 Container

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Understanding Plant Options

Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:

Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements

Container Plant Sizes

Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.

Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2" x 2" x 3"	0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts	0.20 - 0.23 dry liters
4" Container	0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts	0.35 - 0.96 dry liters
4.5" Container	0.65 dry quarts	0.72 dry liters
6" Container	1.4 dry quarts	1.59 dry liters
1 Quart	1 dry quart	1.1 dry liters
5.5" Container	1.89 dry quarts	2.08 dry liters

Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2 Quart	2 dry quarts	2.2 dry liters
#1 Container	2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts	2.49 - 4.11 dry liters
5" x 5" x 12"	3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts	3.85 - 4.74 dry liters

Mature Plants (2-4 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#2 Container	1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons	5.24 - 7.75 dry liters
#3 Container	2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons	8.14 - 12.16 dry liters

Large Plants (3-5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#5 Container	2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons	12.86 - 20.35 dry liters
#6 Container	5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons	23.12 - 26.42 dry liters
#7 Container	5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons	26.34 - 28.76 dry liters

Bare Root Plants

Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.

Common Sizes:

Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet

Important Notes

Container Volume Specifications

Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents

Growing Conditions

Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment

Seasonal Availability

Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
Container plants are available throughout the growing season
Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes

Questions?

For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.

Plant Profile & Growing Essentials

Cold hardy, Native, Fall Color/Interest, Low Maintenance, Deer-resistant, Slopes/Erosion Control, Heat Tolerant, and Drought resistant

Specifications

Botanical Name

Schizachyrium scoparium 'Chameleon'
Height

1-2 ft
Width

1-2 ft
Growing Zones

3-9
Sunlight
- Full sun
Growth Rate

Moderate
Flower Color
- Pink
Leaf Color
- Blue
- Green
- Red
Fall Color

Pinks & Light Purple
Native

Yes
Pollinator Friendly

Yes
Pollinator Required

No
Bloom Period

Early Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Late Fall
Does Not Ship To

AK, HI, ID, MT

Planting & Care Instructions

Where to Plant

Sunlight: Aim for a spot that receives six to eight hours of direct sun daily; this is crucial for keeping the grass upright and maintaining the vibrant white, green, and eventual pink/purple variegation. While it tolerates partial shade, expect the stems to become weak, leading to floppy growth, and the colorful variegation to be less intense.
Soil: This plant prefers poor, well-drained soil, thriving in sandy, rocky, or loamy conditions. Avoid amending the soil heavily with organic matter, as rich soil holds too much moisture and encourages "lodging," where the plant flops over. If you have heavy clay, ensure the site has good drainage, perhaps by planting on a slight mound.

Watering Requirements

During the first season, water deeply once a week in the absence of rain to encourage the development of a deep, drought-proof root system. Once established (typically after the first year), your Chameleon Little Bluestem is highly drought-tolerant and needs water only during prolonged dry spells. Inconsistent watering or overwatering will stress the plant, causing the stems to weaken and the beautiful clumping habit to lose its structural integrity.

Pruning Tips

Little Bluestem is a perennial that blooms on new wood, meaning its top growth from the previous year is dormant and should be removed. The best time for this "haircut" is in late winter or very early spring, before new green shoots emerge from the base. Cut the old, standing foliage back to approximately three to four inches above the soil line to make way for the tidy, vigorous new growth and prevent it from looking ragged.

Fertilizer Needs

This prairie native thrives in lean conditions and rarely requires supplemental feeding; think of it as a plant that performs better when kept hungry. If you feel the need to give it a boost, apply a light, balanced, slow-release granular fertilizer early in the spring as new growth begins. The key "what to avoid" is high-nitrogen fertilizer, especially applied late in the season, as excess nitrogen promotes overly rapid, soft growth that causes the grass to flop or lodge, ruining its naturally tidy form.

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Growing Zones 3-9

Find Your Growing Zone!

Chameleon Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium 'Chameleon') is a color-changing little wonder! Chameleon's narrow leaves emerge striped green and cream, and form elegant, upright fountains that are compact and space-saving clumps! As summer progresses, the graceful tips become light purple and pinkish in color for a triple treat on this graceful Ornamental Grass!

This warm-season grass may take its sweet time getting going in the spring, but watch out once the weather warms up! Spikey blooms add vertical lines that snow won't flatten and the autumn foliage, which becomes flushed with pink as the temperatures drop, carries long-lasting winter interest!

Chameleon Little Bluestem is deer resistant and attracts birds that like to shelter in grasses and feast on the seeds! Chameleon is a must-have for any sun garden! The columnar growth reaches 3-4 feet in height when in bloom, but only takes up 15-24 inches of space! Wildly adaptable throughout USDA hardiness zones 3 to 9, there's little this plant won't be able to handle in your garden!

Planting and Application:

Ornamental Grass adds texture, motion, sound, and color to the garden, and you'll enjoy all that and more, plus Chameleon's hardy, compact, and symmetrical form! Great for all-sized gardens, and boasting both a formal and an informal appearance! Highlight in groups of three or solo specimen plantings that suit this sunny ornamental! Cottage and Rock gardens, beds, borders, and even containers on hot patios are perfect!

Pretty erosion control, Chameleon's color makes any mass planting and tough site gleam! Rock Gardens and that 'hell strip' along a road or sidewalk are perfect locations for these little plants that more than make up for their size with sheer color! Plant along walkways and paths, either in military straight rows or winding soft allées.

Compact Tri-Color Ornamental Grass!
Cream & Green Stripes With Pink & Light Purple
Upright Arching Vase-Shape - Won't Fall Flat!
Pink Fall Color & Long-Lasting
Space-Saving, Formal & Informal Garden Designs!

#ProPlantTips for Care:

This Little Bluestem s a vigorous, long-lived native cultivar. Because of the ease of care, drought tolerance, winter beauty, and the way it adjusts to various soils and climates, the combination makes it a very hardy plant indeed! Little Bluestem does best in well-drained soil with full sun. You don't have to pamper this pretty grass because it does well in almost any well-drained soil. These drought-tolerant grasses thrive on average to low moisture needs once they are established. For neat clumps in spring, cut back heavily to a few inches each late winter, and divide the clumps every 3-5 years to maintain vigor.

Full Sun and Heat & Cold Tolerant!
Moderate to Low Moisture Needs
Any Well-Drained Soil
Warm-Season Grass Variety
Easy Care & Low Maintenance

Striking foliage, compact size, and color-changing beauty, Chameleon Little Bluestem is a tough native cultivar that adds high style! Order yours at Nature Hills!

Under $50	$9.99
$50 - $99.99	$14.99
$100 - $149.99	$16.99
$150 - $198.99	$24.99
$199+	FREE

Chameleon Little Bluestem

Schizachyrium scoparium 'Chameleon'

Plant Sentry™

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Specifications