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Burro Grass

Scleropogon brevifolius

Other common name(s):

Family:

Poaceae (Grass Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

Chihuahuan Deserts, Edwards Plateau
Chihuahuan Basins and Playas, Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands, Chihuahuan Montane Woodlands, Low Mountains and Bajadas, Stockton Plateau
Balcones Canyonlands, Llano Uplift, Semiarid Edwards Plateau

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Grass & Sedge

Height

.5
to
.75
ft.

Spread

.25
to
.5
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Caliche, Calcareous, Well Drained

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Low

Native Habitat

Grassland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

White, Pink

Bloom Season

Summer

Seasonal Interest

Nesting Material

Wildlife Benefit

Birds

Maintenance

Burrograss has an amazingly wide natural range and is even more drought tolerant than Buffalograss. May go dormant in summer, greening up with late summer/fall rains. Only blooms after rains. Provides a mowable turf grass, Then, let it bloom and seed out before resuming mowing. Propagation: Root cuttings, Root division, Seed.

Comments

After a rain plants display female flowers of a glowing pink. In the wild it occurs on dry flats. It is often an indicator of disturbance.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Synonym/s: Scleropogon longisetus

References

1) Wasowski, Sally and Wasowski, Andy, Native Texas Plants, Landscaping Region by Region, 1988, 1991, pg 125. 2) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 3) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=18986&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 4) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Scleropogon+brevifolius&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 5) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SCBR2. 6) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=42084#null, 7) Hatch, Umphres, Ardoin, 2015, Field Guide to Common Texas Grasses, pg 248

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Contact a local Chapter

State Office Phone: 830.997.9272

State Office Address:
Native Plant Society of Texas
PO Box 3017
Fredericksburg, TX 78624

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