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Buffalo Grass

Buchloe dactyloides

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Category
Grass / Sedge / Rush
Sun
Full
Soil moisture
Medium to Dry
Bloom time
May–Aug

About Buffalo Grass

Buffalo Grass is the ultimate low-maintenance turf alternative, offering a rugged and water-wise solution for sunny landscapes. This legendary shortgrass species once covered vast stretches of the American Great Plains, supporting massive herds of bison. A warm-season perennial, it is incredibly tough, reaching only four to eight inches in height and spreading via stolons to form a dense, soft sod. Its fine-textured, grayish-green leaves turn a beautiful golden-tan in the winter. Native to the central United States and Mexico, it is perfectly adapted to dry, heavy soils and extreme temperatures. It is exceptionally drought-tolerant, with roots reaching up to five feet deep, and requires far less mowing and water than traditional lawn grasses. Beyond its use as a lawn, it provides vital habitat for ground-nesting birds. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, making it an ideal choice for sustainable landscaping and erosion control.

Native range

Native to 22 states:

ArkansasArizonaColoradoGeorgiaIowaIllinoisKansasLouisianaMinnesotaMissouriMontanaNorth DakotaNebraskaNew MexicoNevadaOklahomaSouth DakotaTexasUtahVirginiaWisconsinWyoming

County range map

BONAP county-level native range map for Buchloe dactyloides

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

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