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Blue Grama

Bouteloua gracilis

Other common name(s):

Family:

Poaceae (Grass Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

Central Great Plains, Chihuahuan Deserts, Cross Timbers, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, High Plains, Southwestern Tablelands, Texas Blackland Prairies
Broken Red Plains, Red Prairie
Chihuahuan Basins and Playas, Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands, Chihuahuan Montane Woodlands, Low Mountains and Bajadas, Stockton Plateau
Grand Prairie
Balcones Canyonlands, Edwards Plateau Woodland, Llano Uplift, Semiarid Edwards Plateau
Coastal Sand Plain
Arid Llano Estacado, Canadian/Cimarron High Plains, Llano Estacado, Rolling Sand Plains, Shinnery Sands
Canadian/Cimarron Breaks, Caprock Canyons Badlands Breaks, Flat Tablelands and Valleys, Semiarid Canadian Breaks
Northern Blackland Prairie

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Grass & Sedge

Height

1
to
3
ft.

Spread

1
to
2
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Gravelly, Granitic, Calcareous, Well Drained

Light Requirement

Sun

Water Requirement

Low, Medium

Native Habitat

Grassland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Brown

Bloom Season

Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Seeds, Forage, Larval Host

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Birds

Maintenance

One of the most drought tolerant native turf grass. Can survive with as little as 7 inches of rain annually. This is a great plant for a mixed wildflower garden. Leave dead stems standing through Fall and Winter for insect habitat. Cut back dead stems in February before Spring growth. Propagation: Seed.

Comments

Blue Grama is one of the shortest of the native grasses. It is fine leaved and produces blue green seed heads shaped like tiny brushes at the tip of each stem. Larval Host: Skippers. Replaces non-native Bermuda Grass.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Bouteloua gracilis var. stricta, Bouteloua oligostachya, Chondrosum gracile, Chondrosum oligostachyum

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=BOGR2. 3) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Bouteloua+gracilis&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 4) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=17824&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 5) Wasowski and Wasowski, Native Texas Plants Landscaping Region by Region, 1991, pg. 122. 6) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=41493#null

Get in Touch

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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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