Coastal Bluestem looks and behaves similarly to its more popular cousin, Little Bluestem, but is much hardier in a coastal location.  Sand dunes too hot for bare feet--Coastal Bluestem can handle it.
 
     Coastal Bluestem is considered a bunch grass and emerges in spring with blue-green stems and purplish basal leaves.  By fall it takes on a reddish-bronze tint.  Silvery seedheads persist into winter.
 
     Ground-nesting birds use Coastal Bluestem for cover, and butterflies and grasshoppers use it for foraging.
 
     Photo: National Park Service