blue grama
Bouteloua gracilis
USDA zones3 to 10
SunNeeds full sun (6+ hours)
WaterHandles dry to moderate soil
Size9 to 24 inches tall18 to 24 inches wide
- Habit
- Grass/grass-like
- Bloom season
- Spring, summer, autumn
- Bloom color
- Reddish-purple
- Foliage color
- Gray-green
- Soil types
- Sand, loam, clay, chalk
- Soil pH
- Acid, alkaline, neutral
Garden uses
Attracts
Notes
Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) is a grass for rock gardens, meadows, xeriscapes, and naturalized areas. It is hardy to USDA zone 3, or down to -40°F (-40°C). This plant likes full sun and dry to average soil of most types. The blue-green seedheads hang sideways from the stem tips like tiny brushes. Birds eat the seeds, and the plant turns tan when dormant.
Pairs well with Blanket flower, Moonshine yarrow, and Prairie dropseed.
Native range
Southern and western United States and Mexico.