Schizachyrium scoparium Chameleon
Schizachyrium scoparium Chameleon
Schizachyrium scoparium Chameleon
Blue stem, Little Bluestem, Beardgrass
Grows slowly but surely.
patricia, 21/05/2025
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Description
Schizachyrium scoparium 'Chameleon' is a recently bred grass, still relatively uncommon. This variety has variegated leaves of pure white, turning purple-pink by the end of summer. Its compact habit and resistance to dry soils and to the sun, make it an ideal choice for dry beds and patios. However, avoid heavy and overly rich soils.
Schizachyrium scoparium, also known as Little Blue stem, is a grass native to the Great Plains of North America, a highly competitive environment where many species of Poaceae (the scientific name for the grass family) coexist. It is still sometimes found under the name Andropogon scoparius.
'Chameleon' is a beautiful variety from French nurseryman Thierry Delabroye. It has beautiful glaucous green leaves, variegated with pure white. They bring a refreshing touch to sunny borders. As soon as the temperatures start to drop, at the end of summer, the leaves gradually take on magnificent pink and then purple shades. This phenomenon is more pronounced if the nights are cool and the days are warm. The plant flowers between September and November, producing slender upright spikes in beige, then brown-purple. The foliage and flowers create a changing and undulating tableau for several weeks. This compact plant will not exceed 60cm (24in) in height when flowering, 40cm (16in) with foliage, with a diameter of about 35cm (14in) after 2 years.
Due to its origins, Schizachyrium 'Chameleon' can endure summer droughts, and cold and poor soil. Like many dry soil grasses, it will die back quickly (or at best, only live for a few years) if you plant it in soil that is too rich or too heavy. Pay close attention to soil drainage when planting - you can add gravel when planting, and place the rootball on a small mound to raise it.
It will work wonders in the foreground of sunny dry beds, rock gardens, or in pots, in the company of other grasses that like similar conditions such as Panicum virgatum 'Prairie Sky', Festuca amethystina, or the unpronounceable Helictotrichon sempervirens. Perennials such as Gillenia trifoliata, with its sumptuous autumn colours, Geranium 'Azure Rush', and Nepeta 'Walker's Low', with their coarser foliage, will complete these not-to-be-missed scenes.
Schizachyrium scoparium Chameleon in pictures
Flowering
Foliage
Plant habit
Botanical data
Schizachyrium
scoparium
Chameleon
Poaceae
Blue stem, Little Bluestem, Beardgrass
Cultivar or hybrid
Planting and care
From its origins, Schizachyrium scoparium retains excellent resistance to cold and summer drought. Accustomed to living in the immense North American prairies where competition between grasses is fierce, it requires a very clear, very sunny exposure. It needs well-drained, even dry, poor soil to thrive, fearing soils that are too rich, shady, and too moist in which it does not live long.
Planting period
Intended location
Care
Planting & care advice
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Hardiness is the lowest winter temperature a plant can endure without suffering serious damage or even dying. However, hardiness is affected by location (a sheltered area, such as a patio), protection (winter cover) and soil type (hardiness is improved by well-drained soil).
In temperate climates, pruning of spring-flowering shrubs (forsythia, spireas, etc.) should be done just after flowering.
Pruning of summer-flowering shrubs (Indian Lilac, Perovskia, etc.) can be done in winter or spring.
In cold regions as well as with frost-sensitive plants, avoid pruning too early when severe frosts may still occur.
The harvesting period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions in USDA zone 8 (France, England, Ireland, the Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...) fruit and vegetable harvests are likely to be delayed by 3-4 weeks.
In warmer areas (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), harvesting will probably take place earlier, depending on weather conditions.
The sowing periods indicated on our website apply to countries and regions within USDA Zone 8 (France, UK, Ireland, Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...), delay any outdoor sowing by 3-4 weeks, or sow under glass.
In warmer climes (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), bring outdoor sowing forward by a few weeks.
The planting period indicated on our website applies to regions in USDA Zone 9a (East Coast and Midlands: Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny, Portlaoise). It will vary depending on where you live:
- On the west coast and in the north-west (Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Donegal, Westport), delay planting by 1 to 2 weeks in spring and bring it forward by 1 to 2 weeks in autumn compared to the dates given, preferably choosing periods without strong winds.
- In the inland hills and plateaus (Wicklow Mountains, Macgillycuddy’s Reeks, Connemara, Killarney), it is best to plant in spring (April–May) or autumn (September–October), avoiding periods of waterlogged soil in winter and strong winds, which pose the main risk to newly planted trees in these areas.
The flowering period indicated on our website applies to regions in USDA Zone 9a, such as the East Coast and Midlands, including Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny and Portlaoise.
This will vary depending on where you live:
- On the west coast and in the northwest (Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Donegal and Westport), it will be delayed by one to two weeks compared to the given dates, due to stronger Atlantic winds and less spring sunshine.
- In the inland hills and plateaus (the Wicklow Mountains, the Macgillycuddy's Reeks, Connemara and Killarney), flowering will be delayed by two to three weeks. Flowering mainly occurs between May and July, with the limiting factors being less frost and more of the excessive humidity, strong winds and lack of sunshine that are characteristic of these areas.
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