Lineage: Wild-Harvested Texas Native | Soil: Organic Heritage Mineral Blend
Our Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) is an Artisan Grown vertical masterpiece of color and form. This is the definitive grass of the American prairie, reimagined for the modern Hill Country landscape. Unlike mass-produced ornamental grasses that lose their structure, our Little Bluestem is field-forged to stand tall against our relentless winds, providing a sophisticated, blue-tinted summer silhouette that erupts into a sea of mahogany and copper as the seasons turn.
We begin with our surroundings. Every seed we grow is hand-harvested from vigorous, wild-growing mature plants found on our ranch or within a strict 10-mile radius. This ensures our plants carry the specific site-adapted genetics required to handle the unique mineral profile and erratic weather of the Dripping Springs and Austin corridor.
These wild seeds are started in our custom Organic Seedling Mineral Mix—a gentle, high-porosity version of our heritage blend designed to nourish and encourage young roots to dive deep. We utilize open-flat sowing to allow these grasses to develop a vigorous, communal root system early on, mimicking the competitive and dense root mats found in a healthy wild prairie. This initial "social" growth phase builds a resilient foundation before they are transitioned to individual pots for specialized vertical training.
As the plants transition into their final phase, they are potted into deep, air-pruning pots. This critical step uses the dry Texas air to naturally prune root tips, forcing the plant to develop a massive, hyper-fibrous root system without circling. Once potted, they “rest” under the dappled shade of our Texas Live Oak trees, acclimating to our hilltop winds and heavy spring rains. For the final two weeks, they field-harden in unapologetic full sun. This multi-phase approach ensures every plant leaving our ranch has been "performance-tested" and is biologically prepared for a resilient, irrigation-free Hill Country life once established.
A vertical, mid-sized bunchgrass that offers a four-season color palette and essential ecological benefits.
Color Evolution: Stunning blue-green foliage in the spring and summer gives way to brilliant hues of mahogany, bronze, and copper in the fall, persisting as a glowing focal point through winter.
Structural Integrity: Its tight, upright growth habit can reach up to 7 feet tall which makes it the perfect "living screen" or architectural backdrop for shorter native perennials.
Ecological Anchor: A “must-have” for any regenerative wildlife sanctuary, it provides vital nesting material and seeds for songbirds, acts as a larval host for several butterfly species, and helps build soil health through its deep, carbon-sequestering root system.
Erosion Champion: It’s deep roots navigate up to 6 feet down to stabilize soil, hold moisture to slowly release to surrounding plants during drought, and it’s foliage slows water run-off and helps create nutrient rich soil.
Field-grown, sun-hardened, and air-pruned. Delivered in a 4.5” Deep Square Pot with a vertical 5”, robust root system designed to anchor deep into our rocky Hill Country soil, ensuring this perennial returns with more architectural height year after year.
Little Bluestem thrives in full, unapologetic Texas sun. It is remarkably drought-tolerant once established and prefers well-drained soil, though it is quite adaptable to our local clay and limestone. To maintain its signature tight, upright form, avoid over-fertilizing; it prefers the lean, mineral-rich soils of its native habitat.
For a high-impact "Hill Country Sunset" garden, plant Little Bluestem as a backdrop to our Spineless Prickly Pear. The blue-toned summer foliage of the grass makes the yellow cactus blooms pop, and when the grass turns copper and red in the fall, the two create a rich, colored landscape that defines the Texas fall aesthetic.
Lineage: Wild-Harvested Texas Native | Soil: Organic Heritage Mineral Blend
Our Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) is an Artisan Grown vertical masterpiece of color and form. This is the definitive grass of the American prairie, reimagined for the modern Hill Country landscape. Unlike mass-produced ornamental grasses that lose their structure, our Little Bluestem is field-forged to stand tall against our relentless winds, providing a sophisticated, blue-tinted summer silhouette that erupts into a sea of mahogany and copper as the seasons turn.
We begin with our surroundings. Every seed we grow is hand-harvested from vigorous, wild-growing mature plants found on our ranch or within a strict 10-mile radius. This ensures our plants carry the specific site-adapted genetics required to handle the unique mineral profile and erratic weather of the Dripping Springs and Austin corridor.
These wild seeds are started in our custom Organic Seedling Mineral Mix—a gentle, high-porosity version of our heritage blend designed to nourish and encourage young roots to dive deep. We utilize open-flat sowing to allow these grasses to develop a vigorous, communal root system early on, mimicking the competitive and dense root mats found in a healthy wild prairie. This initial "social" growth phase builds a resilient foundation before they are transitioned to individual pots for specialized vertical training.
As the plants transition into their final phase, they are potted into deep, air-pruning pots. This critical step uses the dry Texas air to naturally prune root tips, forcing the plant to develop a massive, hyper-fibrous root system without circling. Once potted, they “rest” under the dappled shade of our Texas Live Oak trees, acclimating to our hilltop winds and heavy spring rains. For the final two weeks, they field-harden in unapologetic full sun. This multi-phase approach ensures every plant leaving our ranch has been "performance-tested" and is biologically prepared for a resilient, irrigation-free Hill Country life once established.
A vertical, mid-sized bunchgrass that offers a four-season color palette and essential ecological benefits.
Color Evolution: Stunning blue-green foliage in the spring and summer gives way to brilliant hues of mahogany, bronze, and copper in the fall, persisting as a glowing focal point through winter.
Structural Integrity: Its tight, upright growth habit can reach up to 7 feet tall which makes it the perfect "living screen" or architectural backdrop for shorter native perennials.
Ecological Anchor: A “must-have” for any regenerative wildlife sanctuary, it provides vital nesting material and seeds for songbirds, acts as a larval host for several butterfly species, and helps build soil health through its deep, carbon-sequestering root system.
Erosion Champion: It’s deep roots navigate up to 6 feet down to stabilize soil, hold moisture to slowly release to surrounding plants during drought, and it’s foliage slows water run-off and helps create nutrient rich soil.
Field-grown, sun-hardened, and air-pruned. Delivered in a 4.5” Deep Square Pot with a vertical 5”, robust root system designed to anchor deep into our rocky Hill Country soil, ensuring this perennial returns with more architectural height year after year.
Little Bluestem thrives in full, unapologetic Texas sun. It is remarkably drought-tolerant once established and prefers well-drained soil, though it is quite adaptable to our local clay and limestone. To maintain its signature tight, upright form, avoid over-fertilizing; it prefers the lean, mineral-rich soils of its native habitat.
For a high-impact "Hill Country Sunset" garden, plant Little Bluestem as a backdrop to our Spineless Prickly Pear. The blue-toned summer foliage of the grass makes the yellow cactus blooms pop, and when the grass turns copper and red in the fall, the two create a rich, colored landscape that defines the Texas fall aesthetic.
Our plants are intentionally cultivated to be site-adapted and focus their energy on growing larger, faster, and healthier below ground so they can take-off above ground once planted. All plants are grown to prioritize dense, downward-oriented root systems that allow rapid establishment in non-irrigated, deer-pressured landscapes.
Water and cage until established. Even for deer resistant plants, expect browsing, especially during drought — survival comes from the roots.
