What does a native grass have in common with bluegrass music?
Quite a lot, according to Del Orloske, Educator and Director of Ecological Landscapes at The Ashokan Center.
During Bluegrass Music Camp at Ashokan, Del reflected on the surprising connection between the music and the plant that may better embody its spirit: Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium).
Roots That Run Deep
Ask where bluegrass music gets its name and most people will point to the rolling pastures of Kentucky and the famous Bluegrass State. But botanically speaking, there is an interesting twist: Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) is not native to North America. Introduced from Europe and Asia, it is commonly found in carefully maintained lawns and pastures.
Bluegrass music, Del argues, was never meant for manicured lawns.
Little Bluestem tells a different story. A native North American grass, it can send its roots five to eight feet deep into the soil, allowing it to withstand drought, harsh winters, and challenging soils.
That resilience feels remarkably familiar.
Born in the Appalachian hills, timber camps, and working-class farms, bluegrass music grew from deep cultural roots, blending Scots-Irish fiddle traditions, African American blues and banjo traditions, and gospel harmonies into a uniquely American musical tradition.
Like Little Bluestem, the music draws strength from what lies beneath the surface.
Wild, Unmowed, and Beautiful
Little Bluestem also has a natural beauty that echoes the acoustic spirit of bluegrass.
In spring and summer, it grows in dusty shades of blue, green, and purple. In autumn, its leaves turn bronze, copper, and warm mahogany—the colors of a well-loved guitar or an aged mandolin.
In winter, it remains standing, with silvery seedheads catching the wind.
As Del puts it: “You don’t mow Little Bluestem; you let it sing.”
That sentiment feels particularly fitting at Ashokan, where music and the landscape have always been intertwined.
A Native Symbol for an American Original
Bluegrass music is an American original—high-energy, emotional, deeply rooted in tradition, and connected to the people and places that shaped it.
Little Bluestem shares many of those qualities. It is native, resilient, adaptable, and deeply rooted in the landscape. It stands through every season, just as musical traditions continue to evolve while carrying their history forward.
So the next time you hear a banjo roll or a soaring fiddle breakdown, take a moment to look beyond the manicured turf. Here at Ashokan, look instead to the fields and hillsides where Little Bluestem sways in the breeze.
You may find a native grass whose roots run deep into the soil—standing strong through every season, just like the music itself.
Written by Del Orloske, M.A.L.D., B.E.S., Educator & Director of Ecological Landscapes at The Ashokan Center.