Elliott’s bluestem is a warm season, perennial bunch grass. The height is usually 2 1/2 to 3 feet. The leaf blade is 6 to 15 inches long, smooth except for cluster of hair just above ligule. The leaf sheath is a basal sheath that is keeled, overlapping, relatively narrow; and has rounded upper sheaths. The stem is erect; 1 to 6 per plant, branching near top. The seedhead is a raceme, partially enclosed in conspicuous enlarged spathe, which turns a rusty color when plant matures.