Twilight Zone Little Bluestem Grass

Schizachyrium scoparium 'Twilight Zone'

Nature Hills Nursery

Iridescent Purple-Mauve Foliage Transforms from Green Tips to Deep Burgundy in Fall
Cold Hardy: Thrives in Zones 3-9
Grows 4-5 ft Tall, 2 ft Wide
Showy Yellow, Mixed Blooms From Late Summer to Early Fall
Deer Resistant, Disease Resistant, Drought Tolerant

$53⁷⁵

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Plant Size

Product variants

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

Sunlight: Give this grass plenty of direct sun, ideally at least 6 hours a day. Full sun is crucial for keeping the stems strong and upright; in too much shade, the plant will become floppy and lose its signature silvery-purple color intensity.
Soil: Plant in well-draining soil, as this grass hates having "wet feet." It tolerates poor, dry, or rocky soils exceptionally well, so avoid amending with rich compost or manure, which can cause lush, weak growth that flops over.

Watering Requirements

During the first season, water deeply once a week to help the root system establish itself in your landscape. Once established, Twilight Zone is highly drought-tolerant and rarely needs supplemental water unless you experience extreme heat or prolonged dry spells. Overwatering is actually more harmful than underwatering for this prairie native.

Pruning Tips

Wait until late winter or very early spring to cut the foliage back, rather than doing it in the fall. Leaving the dried foliage provides winter interest and cover for wildlife. When you do prune, cut the entire clump back to about 3-4 inches above the ground before new green shoots appear to keep the plant looking tidy and vigorous for the new season.

Fertilizer Needs

Skip the fertilizer for this plant; it thrives on neglect and naturally lean soils. Adding fertilizer, especially high-nitrogen formulas, will encourage weak, floppy stems rather than the sturdy, upright habit you want. If your soil is extremely poor, a light top-dressing of organic mulch in spring is all the feeding it will ever need.

Delivery and Shipping

Shipping Rates

Ships in 7-10 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

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

✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee

Understanding Our Container Sizes

At Nature Hills, our plants are sold in industry-standard nursery containers. You will notice we use the word "container" rather than "gallon." Container numbers follow a nursery trade size standard, not liquid volume. The number tells you the plant's size category and general maturity level. A larger container means a more established plant with a stronger root system.

Container Sizes

Quart

Plant age: 6 months to 1 year
Best for: Ground covers, perennials, ornamental grasses
What to expect: Our smallest and most affordable size. Well-suited for planting in multiples across a large area. Allow 1 to 2 seasons for full establishment.

#1 Container

Plant age: 1 to 2 years
Best for: Shrubs, perennials, smaller trees
What to expect: About the size of a large coffee can. A well-developed root system in a manageable size. Good value choice when you have time to let the plant grow into the space over a season or two.

#2 Container

Plant age: 2 to 3 years
Best for: Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment
What to expect: A noticeable step up from a #1 in both plant size and root development. Good choice when you want visible presence without going to a larger size.

#3 Container

Plant age: 3 to 4 years
Best for: Most plants, most situations — flowering trees, shade trees, evergreen shrubs
What to expect: Our most popular size. Strong, developed root system. Plants in a #3 container make an immediate visual impact from day one. If you want a head start rather than waiting seasons for a plant to fill in, this is typically the right choice.

#5 Container and Larger

Plant age: 4 to 5+ years
Best for: Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact
What to expect: Large, mature plants ready to make an immediate statement in your landscape. We also carry #7 and larger sizes for select varieties.

Why "Container" and Not "Gallon"?

Nursery container sizes follow an industry trade standard established for the nursery and horticulture industry. The number is a size designation, not a measurement of liquid volume. Actual soil volume varies by plant type, root mass, and growing medium. Using "container" is the accurate industry term. When you see #1, #2, or #3, think of it as the plant's size tier, not a gallon measurement.

Root Pouch Containers

Some Nature Hills plants arrive in a Root Pouch, a breathable fabric container made from 100% recycled materials. Root Pouches encourage denser root development through air pruning, which discourages root circling and promotes a stronger, more fibrous root ball at the time of planting.

Plants growing in Root Pouch fabric containers, showing the breathable woven fabric construction

There are two types. Knowing which one you have changes how you plant:

Degradable (brown or tan fabric): Plant the entire pouch directly in the ground. The fabric breaks down naturally in the soil over time.
Non-degradable (black or gray fabric): Remove the pouch before planting. Cut the bottom open with scissors, then peel the sides away. The fibrous root ball will hold its shape.

Not sure which type you have? Check the tag on your plant or contact us and we will confirm.

Full Root Pouch planting guide

Choosing the Right Size

Size	Plant Age	Best For
Quart	6 mo to 1 yr	Ground covers, perennials, grasses. Budget-friendly for mass plantings.
#1 Container	1 to 2 yrs	Shrubs, perennials, small trees. Value choice for patient gardeners.
#2 Container	2 to 3 yrs	Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment.
#3 Container	3 to 4 yrs	Most plants. Immediate visual impact. Our most popular size.
#5 and larger	4+ yrs	Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact.

Still not sure which size is right for your project? Our plant specialists are happy to help. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.

Plant specifications
Plant Characteristics	Cold hardy, Native, Fall Color/Interest, Deer-resistant, Salt Tolerant, Slopes/Erosion Control, Heat Tolerant, Drought resistant
Hardiness Zone	3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Sunlight	Full sun
Height	4-5 ft
Width	2 ft
Watering Needs	Low
Preferred Soil	Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy
Growth Rate	Moderate
Growth Habit	Compact, Upright
Plant Life Cycle	Perennial
Blooms In	Fall, Summer
Flower Color	Pink
Native	Yes
Suitable Space	Outdoors
Plant Name	Grass
Botanical Name	Schizachyrium scoparium 'Twilight Zone'
Species	scoparium
Cultivar	Twilight Zone
Class	Poales
Does Not Ship To	AK, HI, ID, MT, PR

Stunning Twilight Zone Little Bluestem Grass

Exceptional Color All Season
Useful Narrow Form
New Green Blades Become Tipped With Gorgeous Iridescent Sheen
Silver Mauve Purple Overcast Expands Over the Season
Autumn Color Deepens to Purple and Burgundy
Birds Appreciate the Seed Heads
Keep in Deep Containers
Winter Interest
Easy Care Warm-Season Grass
Low Water Requirements Once Established
Deer Seldom Damage Them

Native grasses look so amazing in graceful mass plantings in commercial landscapes across the United States. Homeowners and renters shouldn't miss out on their sophisticated charms, either.

Add the exceptional color of Twilight Zone Little Bluestem Grass (Schizachyrium scoparium 'Twilight Zone') in your mixed beds. Or, keep them in a series of deep planters along the length of your balcony or Roof Garden.

This exciting Schizachyrium was a stand-out in garden trials across the nation with superior health and an absolutely gorgeous look. Twilight Zone Little Bluestem Grass features a very erect habit and stays half as wide as it is tall.

The new spring green blades shoot straight up from the center of the clump. At the very end, they'll arch over for a fetching look.

This remarkable vertical form is highlighted when the tips develop an iridescent silvery mauve purple color by midsummer. This is a rare trait for Bluestem, and adds a very welcome dimension to your plantings.

Of course, this special Bluestem takes things to the next level in autumn. This beautiful tone deepens through fall when brighter purple highlights appear on the flower stems.

Twilight Zone Little Bluestem will perform like a champ. It is especially good for restoration work in hot, dry areas where other plants struggle to grow.

Imagine, if you will, your yard decorated by this spectacular, stiffly upright, high-performing grass. Order Twilight Zone Little Bluestem Grass from us today!

How to Use Twilight Zone Little Bluestem in the Landscape

Designers love pushing the envelope with this variety, and we encourage you to reach beyond your limits of your imagination, too! There are many ways to make the most of this bold cultivar.

Try an Ornamental Grass as a specimen in a high-profile spot to delight and intrigue your guests. The breeze will catch the ends and send them waving and swaying.

Several of them together make a phenomenal hedge for high impact color, definition and winter interest. Plant them 18 inches apart on center, measuring from the center of one to the center of the next.

Plant additional rows behind them in a staggered, zigzagging pattern for a dynamic mass planting. Even small spaces can use this idea...simply by scaling down the width of the bed.

Wend a winding, curved mass planting through a rock garden. You'll emulate the look of a water feature with its iced, rippling blades moving in the summer breezes.

Use them on the south side of mature evergreen trees with Red Twig Dogwood shrubs, and your favorite prairie perennials, Shrub Roses and spring-flowering bulbs. You'll make everyone in the family happy with this appealing year-round feature.

Use their architectural appeal in the front yard to rocket your curb appeal. Line your front walk with a hedge, or create a circular island bed for an ultra-modern showpiece.

We recommend that you leave the plants standing for winter interest. You'll appreciate the tawny brown accents and watching songbirds utilize the wildlife habitat.

#ProPlantTips for Care

Twilight Zone Little Bluestem Grass performs best in full sun. Let it soak in at least six hours of direct sunlight a day.

This rugged grass actually does great in poor to average soils, although it can tolerate heat and humidity and a wide range of growing conditions. However, rich soil or too much fertilization can cause this grass to flop.

If you keep this in containers on your balcony, please choose a pot that is very deep from top to bottom. You'll need to accommodate the long roots.

Pay attention to watering for young plants and those kept in containers. Once they are established after the first few seasons, they have low water requirements.

Each year in early spring, prune them down to four inches in height. Gloves and a garden saw make it an easy task. Have patience with these warm-season grasses because they are a bit slow to emerge in the spring.

Red hot Twilight Zone Little Bluestem Grass is on the short list of discerning gardeners and landscape designers. Place your order now with Nature Hills, as our limited inventory will sell out quickly.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What USDA hardiness zones is Twilight Zone Little Bluestem Grass suitable for?

Twilight Zone Little Bluestem Grass thrives in USDA zones 3-9, making it adaptable to most North American climates. This warm-season native grass tolerates both harsh winters and hot, dry summers exceptionally well. Plant in spring for best establishment in your zone.

Is this a fast-growing or slow-growing ornamental grass?

Little bluestem is a moderate grower that establishes quickly in its first season. You'll see the distinctive iridescent purple tips develop by midsummer, with full autumn color following in fall. Plant in spring for best establishment results when you shop at Nature Hills.

Does this grass require fertilizing and if so, how often?

Little bluestem grasses typically thrive without regular fertilization once established. This native warm-season grass actually prefers lean soils and can become floppy with too much nitrogen. Apply a light, balanced fertilizer only in early spring if your soil is exceptionally poor.

Should I cut back this ornamental grass and when is the best time to do it?

Yes, cut back Twilight Zone Little Bluestem in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. This warm-season grass provides valuable winter interest with its purple-burgundy color and seed heads that birds appreciate. Cut stems down to 3-4 inches above ground level in February or March.

Will this grass spread or stay in a clump formation?

Twilight Zone Little Bluestem stays in a tidy clump formation and won't spread aggressively. It maintains an upright habit that's half as wide as it is tall, with new blades shooting up from the center each spring. This makes it perfect for containers or precise spacing in borders available at naturehills.com.

Twilight Zone Little Bluestem Grass

Schizachyrium scoparium 'Twilight Zone'