This grass is called a little bluestem because there are flashes of blue on the stems. Little bluestem is one of the grasses that once covered the prairies of the midwest, making it an important food source for many species.

Jazz little bluestem is a striking plant with blue and purple coloring and flashes of maroon. In late summer silver flower plumes appear which fade to reddish-brown in the fall. Jazz is smaller than most bluestems reaching a height of only 30 inches and a width of about eighteen inches. It is usual to retain the plumes over the winter months to enjoy their motion in wind and snow. Cut back to ground level in late winter to promote fresh new growth. Little bluestem tolerates black walnut, and a wide variety of soil types but needs very well-drained soils.