Public domainSideoats grama
Bouteloua curtipendula
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Elevation:
- 3,000 ft – 7,000 ft
- Bloom:
- Jul – Sep
- Region:
- Southwest
A warm-season bunchgrass named for the row of small oat-like seed spikes that dangle uniformly along one side of each arching stem, often flushed with orange and purple anthers. The Texas state grass and a tough, palatable forage grass.
Care · tuned to the Southwest
Water
Very drought tolerant; thrives on natural rainfall and greens up with summer monsoon moisture.
Sun & exposure
Full sun.
Soil
Adaptable to well-drained rocky, sandy, clay, or limestone soils; tolerates alkalinity.
In the Southwest
Warm-season grass that stays tan and dormant until soils warm in late spring; mow or cut back in late winter, and it reseeds readily to fill in stands.
Common problems & fixes
Dormant tan color mistaken for dead plants
Fix — It is simply warm-season dormant; wait for late spring warmth and it will green up.
Weeds invade thin or bare stands
Fix — Sow at adequate density and control weeds early so the grama can establish and self-seed.
Pets & toxicity
Non-toxic to dogs and cats.
Easy to confuse with
- Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) — eyelash-like seed heads at the stem tip, not strung along one side
- Hairy grama (Bouteloua hirsuta) — fewer, brushier spikes with a projecting bristle
Sources
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