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Blue Grama

Bouteloua gracilis

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Category
Grass / Sedge / Rush
Sun
Full to Partial
Soil moisture
Medium-Dry to Dry
Bloom time
Jul–Sep
Bloom color
Blue
Notes
Warm

About Blue Grama

Blue Grama is an iconic American prairie grass that brings a whimsical and hardy spirit to the sunny landscape. This warm-season bunchgrass is famous for its unique seed heads, which resemble tiny, horizontal eyelashes suspended from 10 to 20-inch stems. The fine-textured, blue-green foliage provides a soft backdrop during the summer before transitioning to a lovely golden-brown as autumn arrives. It is a cornerstone species of the shortgrass prairie, naturally adapted to the wide-open plains and sunny, open woodlands across much of North America. This grass is an ecological powerhouse, serving as a larval host for several skipper butterflies, including the Leonard’s and Ottoe skippers, while its seeds provide critical winter forage for birds. Blue Grama is incredibly drought-tolerant and thrives in well-drained sandy or loamy soils. Its low-growing habit and minimal water requirements make it a top choice for xeriscaping or as a sustainable, low-maintenance alternative to traditional turf. It is a tough, beautiful survivor that adds character to any sun-drenched garden.

Native range

Native to 28 states:

ArizonaCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutFloridaIowaIdahoIllinoisKansasMassachusettsMaineMichiganMinnesotaMissouriMontanaNorth DakotaNebraskaNew MexicoNevadaNew YorkOhioOklahomaSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTexasUtahWisconsinWyoming

County range map

BONAP county-level native range map for Bouteloua gracilis

Range map courtesy of BONAP (Biota of North America Program).

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