Blue Grama

Bouteloua gracilis

Blue Grama is a small tufted  na t ive warm-season  grass common in short grass prairies. The wiry blue-grey leaf blades turn golden brown in fall, and may sometimes gain a red-orange hue.  Small purplish flowers appear on stems in summer.  Blue Grama needs full sun and well-drained soils.  Extremely drought tolerant.  

MAINTENANCE NEEDS:  Low maintenance.  Extreme drought may cause browning and temporary dormancy until moisture is available.  Cut to ground in late winter before new shoots appear.

LANDSCAPE USES:  Accents or Group Plantings,  Borders,  Woodland Gardens,  Wildlife Gardens,  Naturalized Areas,  Native Gardens,  Rock Gardens,  Xeriscaping, and Containers.

COMPANION PLANTS: Ornamental Onion, Black-Eyed Susan, Butterfly Weed

IMAGES: Photos by  Matt Lavin, Bouteloua gracilis - blue grama, set (1)+ (2),  (3)  Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova,  Bouteloua gracilis Butelua 2007-08-11 02,  CC BY-SA 4.0

 *As plants have ranges in appearance they may not appear as the images shown.