Blue Grama

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Bouteloua gracilis Blue grama is a tufted, warm-season grass native to Texas. It is known for its unique characteristic of seed spikes that resemble mosquito larvae, hanging from o nly one side of its flowering stems. This grass grows in prairies, plains, open rocky woodlands, and on railroad tracks in the Western U.S. It was a dominant grass in dry shortgrass prairies. The narrow, bluish-gray leaf blades typically form a dense clump that grows 12-15" tall. In autumn, the foliage turns a golden brown, sometimes with hues of orange and red. Purplish-tinged flowers form on arching stems above the foliage in early to mid-summer, bringing the total height of the clump to about 20" tall. It is seed food source for birds, and is a larval host for at least six different Skipper Butterflies. Blue grama grass thrives in dry to medium, well-drained soils and requires full sun. It can tolerate various soils, except for poorly drained wet ones. The grass exhibits excellent drought tolerance and freely self-seeds. It should be cut to the ground in late winter before new shoots appear. BONAP MAP Height: .75’-2'Spread: 1.5’-2' Bloom: June-August Light: Full SunWater: LowZone: 3-10Origin: Southern & Western U.S. Common Names include Blue Grama, Mosquito Grass Show more