Description
Blue Grama (Bouteloua gracilis) is a tough, low-growing native grass that usually tops out around a little over a foot tall. It forms fine, gray-green leaves and produces distinctive horizontal seed heads that look like little eyelashes or combs, turning tan as they mature.
This warm-season grass thrives in full sun and dry conditions. It’s extremely drought-tolerant and handles poor soils with ease, making it a great option for low-maintenance landscapes, shortgrass plantings, and native lawn alternatives. It’s often mixed with Buffalograss for a more natural, drought-tolerant turf.
Blue Grama is easy to establish from seed and stays fairly short, especially if left unmowed. It adds texture through the growing season and holds its structure into fall, giving it some year-round interest.
It also supports wildlife, serving as a host plant for Leonard’s Skipper and Common Branded Skipper, and birds feed on the seeds.
Blue Grama pairs well with other dry prairie natives like Buffalograss (Bouteloua dactyloides), Northern Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis), Lanceleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata), and Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) for a durable, drought-tolerant planting.
