Ha Ha Tonka Little Bluestem Grass

Ha Ha Tonka Little Bluestem Grass: Blue Beauty

Meet Ha Ha Tonka Little Bluestem Grass (Schizachyrium scoparium 'Ha Ha Tonka')—a true native prairie gem!. This rugged, upright clumping ornamental grass shows off silvery blue blades through the summer, then puts on a dazzling fall show with copper, burgundy, and mahogany tones!

Form-wise, Ha Ha Tonka stands about a foot tall and spreads up to 20 inches wide, making a tidy vertical accent in the garden. The blades are narrow and fine-textured, forming a tight clump that stays upright even in wind or rain.

In late summer, it sends up wispy flower stalks with delicate silvery seed heads that shimmer in the sun and persist well into winter. Those seeds are a buffet for overwintering songbirds, so don't rush to cut it back.

A cultivar of our beloved native Little Bluestem, it's ideal for low-maintenance, naturalistic landscapes and anywhere you want to bring a bit of prairie soul. The cultivar Ha Ha Tonka is named for the iconic Missouri state park, where rugged limestone cliffs and open meadows mirror this grass's wild beauty. Drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, and a haven for birds, it's a gardener's delight from root to plume!

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Key Features

• Native cultivar with upright, clumping growth habit
• Silvery blue blades in summer, coppery-red fall color
• Airy seed heads attract birds and pollinators
• Drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, low maintenance
• Grows 12 inches tall and 18-20 inches wide
• Hardy in USDA zones 3–10

Landscaping Uses

Little Bluestem is all about resilience and natural elegance. It's a cousin to other warm-season bunchgrasses and fits beautifully into any eco-conscious or native-friendly garden design.

This compact ornamental grass brings bold vertical structure and multi-season interest to any garden. With its manageable 12 inch height and 18-20 inch wide spread, it's perfect for smaller spaces or massed in larger designs.

• Prairie or meadow plantings
• Native or wildlife-friendly gardens
• Xeriscaping and dry slopes
• Mixed borders with perennials
• Winter interest plantings
• Naturalistic groupings or mass plantings
• Tidy yet wild container plantings

Care and Maintenance

It thrives in USDA Planting Zones 3–10, tolerates poor, rocky, or sandy soil, and handles hot, dry summers with ease. Native to North America, Little Bluestem grows across most of the U.S. and is a vital part of tallgrass prairie ecosystems.

As a warm-season, clumping grass, Ha Ha Tonka Little Bluestem is as easy-going as they come. It loves the sun, shrugs off drought, and thrives where others fail—poor soil? Bring it on. Humid? No sweat. Just give it space to shine!

• Planting Time: Spring or early fall. Read how to plant Grasses here!
• Sun Needs: Full sun (at least 6 hours daily)
• Soil Needs: Well-drained soil; thrives in sandy, rocky, or clay conditions with decent drainage
• Moisture Needs: Dry to average once established
• Mulch: Use a 3–4 inch layer of bark chips or arborist mulch to suppress weeds and conserve moisture
• Fertilization Needs: Rarely needed; a light compost top-dress in spring boosts vigor
• Pruning Info: Cut back old growth to a few inches in late winter or early spring before new growth emerges
• Renewal Pruning: Not necessary, but dividing every 3–4 years can rejuvenate dense clumps
• Special Perks/Growing Tips:
• Extremely cold-hardy
• Heat and drought tolerant
• Deer/rabbit resistant
• Tolerates poor and compacted soil
• Ideal for erosion control
• Division Info: Divide in early spring if clumps become too dense or to propagate

Grassroots Greatness: Plant the Prairie Spirit

Ha Ha Tonka Little Bluestem brings a whisper of the wild to every garden bed. With bold color shifts, airy seed heads, and blue-toned blades that blush red in fall, it's the epitome of prairie chic. Whether you're filling a native meadow, designing a wildlife haven, or just need a no-fuss ornamental with charisma, this grass delivers.

Buy now and Nature Hills will ship at the appropriate planting time for your growing zone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ha Ha Tonka Little Bluestem invasive?
No, it's a non-spreading clump-forming grass, not invasive.

Does Little Bluestem reseed itself?
Yes, but modestly. It can self-sow under the right conditions, but not aggressively.

Will this grass survive humid summers?
Yes! Unlike some native grasses, this cultivar is highly adaptable to both dry and humid climates.

Can I grow Ha Ha Tonka in clay soil?
Yes, as long as it's well-drained. It's very tolerant of challenging soil conditions.

How does this compare to other Little Bluestem varieties?
Ha Ha Tonka is noted for its strong upright form and vivid blue coloring, with excellent fall hues and standability (resistance to flopping).

Is it good for erosion control?
Absolutely. The dense root system stabilizes soil on slopes and banks beautifully.

Can I grow Little Bluestem in containers?
Yes! Use a large pot with excellent drainage. It brings a soft, vertical accent to container gardens.