Blue Grama Grass > National Home Gardening Club

BY: NHGC Staff

If you admire the rustle and sway of ornamental grasses, but don’t have the space for stalks 5 or 6 feet tall, consider blue grama grass (Bouteloua gracilis). The seed heads of this prairie native top out at about 2 feet; the gray-green foliage clump is less than half that. Reddish-purple blooms show up in late summer. Birds love the seeds that follow, which are borne in a crescent shape at the tip of a slender stalk. In the fall, blades turn purple and then soft yellow. Blue grama grass is the state grass of Colorado and New Mexico.

Common name: Blue grama grass, mosquito grass
Botanical name: Bouteloua gracilis
Plant type: Perennial grass
Zones: 3 to 9
Height: About 2 feet
Family: Poaceae

Growing conditions
· Sun: Full sun
· Soil: Average to poor; well-drained
· Moisture: Average to dry. Drought-tolerant when established.

Care
· Mulch: None needed.
· Pruning: Cut back last year’s foliage in the spring.
· Fertilizer: None needed.

Propagation
· By seed or division

Pests and diseases
· Vulnerable to root rots and fungal leaf spots

Garden notes
· Blue grama grass spreads by seeds and rhizomes, but it’s a slow grower and isn’t considered invasive.
· Use it in rock gardens, prairie settings, and meadows, or even as a turf grass.
· Useful for hot, dry spots.

Cultivars
· ‘Hachita’ (pictured) is said to be the most drought-tolerant cultivar of blue grama. It was developed from plants growing near Hachita, New Mexico.

All in the family
· Two cousins of blue grama grass are popular ornamentals: side oats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) and hairy grama (Bouteloua hirsuta). Both grow 2 to 3 feet tall and prefer dry soil in full sun.
· Poaceae, the grass family, also contains bamboo, rice, corn, wheat, and millet—some of the world’s most important food crops.

Resources:
Blackfoot Native Plants, 406-880-8809
High Country Gardens, 800-925-9387

(Text by Elizabeth Noll, photo of Bouteloua gracilis ‘Hachita’ courtesy of High Country Gardens, www.highcountrygardens.com)

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Current Articles \| Archives \| Search Blue Grama Grass BY: NHGC Staff 2 If you admire the rustle and sway of ornamental grasses, but don’t have the space for stalks 5 or 6 feet tall, consider blue grama grass (Bouteloua gracilis). The seed heads of this prairie native top out at about 2 feet; the gray-green foliage clump is less than half that. Reddish-purple blooms show up in late summer. Birds love the seeds that follow, which are borne in a crescent shape at the tip of a slender stalk. In the fall, blades turn purple and then soft yellow. Blue grama grass is the state grass of Colorado and New Mexico. Common name: Blue grama grass, mosquito grass Botanical name: Bouteloua gracilis Plant type: Perennial grass Zones: 3 to 9 Height: About 2 feet Family: Poaceae Growing conditions · Sun: Full sun · Soil: Average to poor; well-drained · Moisture: Average to dry. Drought-tolerant when established. Care · Mulch: None needed. · Pruning: Cut back last year’s foliage in the spring. · Fertilizer: None needed. Propagation · By seed or division Pests and diseases · Vulnerable to root rots and fungal leaf spots Garden notes · Blue grama grass spreads by seeds and rhizomes, but it’s a slow grower and isn’t considered invasive. · Use it in rock gardens, prairie settings, and meadows, or even as a turf grass. · Useful for hot, dry spots. Cultivars · ‘Hachita’ (pictured) is said to be the most drought-tolerant cultivar of blue grama. It was developed from plants growing near Hachita, New Mexico. All in the family · Two cousins of blue grama grass are popular ornamentals: side oats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) and hairy grama (Bouteloua hirsuta). Both grow 2 to 3 feet tall and prefer dry soil in full sun. · Poaceae, the grass family, also contains bamboo, rice, corn, wheat, and millet—some of the world’s most important food crops. Resources: Blackfoot Native Plants, 406-880-8809 High Country Gardens, 800-925-9387 (Text by Elizabeth Noll, photo of Bouteloua gracilis ‘Hachita’ courtesy of High Country Gardens, www.highcountrygardens.com) Comments By wcrust Tuesday, August 07, 2012 11:37 AM I want some of this anyone know where to get it ? Thanks Bill By kathychilders Tuesday, August 07, 2012 11:52 AM There are sources for it listed at the bottom of the story. Post Comment Only registered users may post comments.