Twilight Zone Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium 'Twilight Zone')
skiz-ah-KEER-ee-um skoe-PAR-ee-um 'Twilight Zone'

Deciduous Perennial Upright, Clump in the Poaceae Family
Silvery-purple iridescent mid-summer, deepening to violet in autumn. Winter color is a tawny gold.

'Twilight Zone' is a Little Bluestem selection introduced by Walters Gardens (US Plant Patent 27,432, inventor Hans A. Hansen, Zeeland, MI) as a sibling release alongside 'Smoke Signal' (shared parentage, sequential patent numbers, same assignee). Its defining trait is silvery mauve-purple summer foliage that deepens into brighter purple highlights by early fall, settling into a lighter, tawny-gold shade in winter -- more a shift in light through the seasons than a simple blue-to-burgundy color change. It grows notably wider-spreading than 'Smoke Signal', a useful distinction when choosing between the two. Reddish-purple flower plumes appear in late summer and persist into winter, with color intensity varying by light exposure -- darker and more purple in shade, more muted in full sun.

Pros

  • Striking silvery mauve-purple summer foliage
  • Brighter purple highlights in early fall
  • Persistent reddish-purple winter plumes
  • Wider-spreading habit than sibling 'Smoke Signal'

Cons

  • Flops or loses form in overly rich or wet soil
  • Needs full sun for sturdiest habit and best color
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 3 - 4 feet tall. 18 - 30 inches wide.
Growth Rate Moderate
Sun Exposure Full Sun - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Dry - Medium: Drought-tolerant once established; does not want to be kept consistently moist.
Zones 3a - 9b (Usually hardy to -40° F)
Tags Attracts Birds, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Pollinators, Attracts Wildlife, Colorful Foliage, Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Dry, Erosion Control, Full Sun, Good for Accents, Good for Borders, Good for Mass Planting, Grasses, Grown For Attractive Foliage, Low Maintenance, Medium, Most Popular, Nativar, Normal Soil, Perennial, Popular For Fall, Rabbit Resistant, Tolerant of Clay Soil, Tolerant of Salt, Tolerant of Sandy Soil, Well-Drained Soil
Bloom Period September to October
Flower Color Reddish-Purple
Foliage Color
 

Plant Club Content

Commonly Planted with...

Pairs well with sibling cultivar 'Smoke Signal', and with asters, rudbeckia, and other late-season prairie perennials that pick up its violet and gold tones.
Want More photos of this plant? Try Google Image Search!
 


Pricing and Availability History

Click a label to toggle visibility for that size

Past Availability
2025 : 04/03 - 10/04
2024 : 05/01 - 10/05
2023 : 06/01 - 09/30

© North Shore Plant Club 2026. Privacy Policy, Terms & Conditions.

Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


Estimated Recipe Cost

The cost of this recipe's ingredients will vary depending on the season and the sizes and varieties you select.


Benefits of Membership

Want a better way to get great plants and make your yard look awesome? Create your account below and get:

  • The best plants… from the same sources the pros use, but at near wholesale prices
  • More plants in more sizes than anywhere else… whether you’re looking for classics or rarities; annuals, perennials or shrubs; one plant or a whole yardful!
  • "No Contact" delivery or easy pick-up at a site near you without fighting the retail crowds. You choose!

Membership is free, but — since we rely on delivery and local pick-up — you have to live near one of our hubs (or be willing to drive to a site to pick them up). If you live farther away, and would like to help us bring the club to your neighbors, please email helpusgrow@northshoreplantclub.com.

Already a member?
Login
No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!