Schizachyrium scoparium, or Little Bluestem, is a perennial grass native to Michigan, delightful in the spring when the colorful stems emerge, and even more so in the fall when the foliage fades to tan with silvery seed heads.
 
Little Bluestem reaches 2 to 3 feet tall.  Not fussy, this plant thrives in full sun to partial shade, medium to dry soil, and will grow in clay, loam or sand. It prefers poor dry soil and will tend to flop if the soil is too rich, fertilized, amended, or overwatered. Little Bluestem does its growing when it is warm, and prefers full sun. 
 
This clump-forming grass stands up in the snow and provides excellent wildlife shelter year-round. It is a host plant to many insects, such as skipper butterflies, and Bluestem seeds are eaten by songbirds and small mammals in the fall. Deer-resistant.