blue grama grass
This plant grows well in the following regions:
- SMSierra and Coastal Mountains
- CVCentral Valley
- DTDesert
- NCNorth and Central Coast
- SCSouth Coast
Map of regions (click to enlarge)
Description
CaliforniaNative
The parent plant, Bouteloua gracilis, is an important short grass in mixed praries in the Great Plains and Southwest, and also grows in the arid mountains of San Bernardino county, with flowers that age to a dark purplish color. Can be used as a low maintenance lawn substitute alone or combined with Buffalo grass (Buchloe dactyloides)
The popular cultivar ‘Blonde Ambition’ was discovered by David Salman in a Santa Fe, New Mexico landscape at a high elevation. It is an unusually large growing form of blue grama. It is a long-lived warm season perennial grass. It flowers in mid-summer with eyelash shaped flowers that provide beauty through winter. Use as a companion plant with flowering perennials and other grasses like Muhlenbergias and Sporobolus airoides.
It will fill in faster and look best with some irrigation, but it is drought and cold tolerant. Cut back to the height of 2-4 inches in mid-spring before it goes into active growth. Remove inner thatch with gloved hands or a hand cultivator to make room for new growth. Divide every 3-5 years in early to mid-spring.
Sun needs:
- Full sun
Water needs:
- Low water
More information
Bouteloua gracilis
- Calscape
- Calflora
- Greenlee and Associates
- Inland Valley Garden Planner
- Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
- LIFE video
- Mountain States Wholesale Nursery
- UC Davis Arboretum Allstar
