Little Bluestem
State Grass Initiative
Teachers,
We invitate your classroom to support an initiative to name Little Bluestem as the State Grass of Kansas.
A State Grass
The symbols that represent Kansas, such as the State Flower, the Annual Sunflower, and the State Tree, the Cottonwood, teach our children about the place where they live. Kansas is a grassland ecosystem, yet we do not have a State Grass. Several schools and the Kansas Native Plant Society together are promoting a project to encourage Kansas legislators to name a State Grass. As a symbol of the prairies of Kansas, a State Grass will focus the attention of Kansans of all ages on the prairie ecosystem. The heritage of the prairies is strong in Kansas, yet many children and adults who live in cities and towns may not be aware of the many ways the grasslands contribute to our quality of life.
Kansas is Prairie
By adopting a State Grass for Kansas, educators will have the opportunity to teach about native prairies, emphasizing their economic, ecological, historical and aesthetic values. The graceful grasses are a hallmark of the prairies. They dominate the landscape and provide food and forage for our population. It is time to add this fundamental icon to the symbols that represent "natural" Kansas to our residents and visitors.
Little Bluestem
Several native grasses are considered dominant in pastures and prairies across the state, but the one species that is found in every county of Kansas is Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium). Little Bluestem is a native perennial with a dense root system reaching five to eight feet into the soil. It is drought resistant and grows from two to five feet tall in deep, shallow or rocky soils. It is important for wildlife habitat. It was once the most abundant grass in the Great Plains and is still of major importance in the tall, mixed and shortgrass prairies where it can produce one to two tons of biomass per acre. This grass is nutritious and palatable for cattle and bison, especially after a spring burn, when the new growth is highly attractive to grazers.
Little Bluestem's Merits
Little Bluestem is a bunch grass, growing in a tight bundle, which gives it a distinctive appearance. Its light and fluffy seed heads are attractive for horticultural plantings. The best characteristic of this grass is its blue-green color with seed stems of mauve and purple. The beautiful fall and winter hues of the prairie are due in great part to the red-orange and mauve colors of Little Bluestem. It is easy to grow and does not spread as rapidly as other grasses. Botanists, horticulturalists and range management specialists have promoted its value for many years.
Our Grassland Heritage
The tallgrass prairie ecosystem is one of the most endangered on the North American continent with less than 4% left as native, unplowed grassland. Kansas has the largest portion of the tallgrass prairie, mainly in the Flint Hills. We should do everything we can to conserve this heritage for the future. Kansas can be a leader in conservation of the prairie. One step in this direction is naming Little Bluestem the State Grass and teaching younger generations about our grassland heritage.
Join the Initiative
Please join the Kansas Native Plant Society in encouraging the Kansas legislature to name Little Bluestem as the State Grass.
Use this site to view information and photos of Little Bluestem to share with your students. Download educational materials for your classroom, including sample letters which could be sent from students to their representatives in Topeka.
Let us know how your classroom is supporting the initiative for Little Bluestem as the Kansas State Grass. When you Join the Initiative, we will record information about your school, post your school to our web site, and add you to our Littleblue Listserv.
The Listserv will keep you informed of the legislative process and update you when new material is added to the web site.
