Blue Grama
Bouteloua gracilis
Also listed as Chondrosum gracile, Actinochloa gracilis
Also known as Blue Grama Grass, Mosquito Grass, Eyelash Grass
Climate Match for your location
See how well Blue Grama grows in your area.
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Blue grama is a short, native bunchgrass prized for its fine texture and drought tolerance. It features distinctive flag-like flower spikes and turns reddish-bronze in fall, making it excellent for xeriscape and prairie gardens.
Why grow it
Blue grama outperforms many ornamental grasses in arid and semi-arid climates, establishing reliable cover with minimal water once established. Its fine texture and modest 12-18 inch height make it useful where taller prairie grasses would dominate, and it tolerates poor, compacted soils better than many turf alternatives. The distinctive seed heads and seasonal color shift offer visual interest across a longer growing season than some competing bunchgrasses.
Watch out for
In areas with high summer humidity or poor drainage, blue grama is prone to fungal issues and may thin unexpectedly. Overwatering and excessive nitrogen fertilization can weaken plants and reduce their drought resilience, so irrigation and soil amendments should be conservative once plants are established.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Poaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
southwestern United States and Mexico
Native to: Arizona, California, Colorado, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Seasonality
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Blue grama is a short, native bunchgrass prized for its fine texture and drought tolerance. It features distinctive flag-like flower spikes and turns reddish-bronze in fall, making it excellent for xeriscape and prairie gardens.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Blue Grama grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Blue grama outperforms many ornamental grasses in arid and semi-arid climates, establishing reliable cover with minimal water once established. Its fine texture and modest 12-18 inch height make it useful where taller prairie grasses would dominate, and it tolerates poor, compacted soils better than many turf alternatives. The distinctive seed heads and seasonal color shift offer visual interest across a longer growing season than some competing bunchgrasses.
Watch out for
In areas with high summer humidity or poor drainage, blue grama is prone to fungal issues and may thin unexpectedly. Overwatering and excessive nitrogen fertilization can weaken plants and reduce their drought resilience, so irrigation and soil amendments should be conservative once plants are established.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Poaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
southwestern United States and Mexico
Native to: Arizona, California, Colorado, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Seasonality
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar ground covers you might consider:
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