Introducing The Grama Grasses, Which Are Known For Their Pretty Spikelets

Blue grama and sideoats grama are two native grasses that stand out for their unusual blooms and easygoing look. Their small spikelets, compact growth, and warm-season color changes make them popular in ornamental plantings.

Bouteloua gracilis, known as blue grama, stays low and forms dense tufts, while Bouteloua curtipendula, or sideoats grama, grows in wiry clumps with flowers that dangle along one side of the stem. Both grasses bring texture to gardens, and both have a strong presence across North America.

That mix of beauty, hardiness, and wildlife value is what makes grama grasses worth a closer look.

This species is called the Bouteloua curtipendula, commonly known as sideoats grass.

Sideoats grama is plentiful in the Great Plains prairies and widespread in other areas, but it is uncommon in New England. It is native to western Connecticut, where a few populations are found, but it was transported to Maine in unusual waste material deposits that included seeds. 

Its scarcity may be attributed to its preference for high-pH soils and dry to sandy environments. Dam construction, shade from forest succession, and invasive species are all likely culprits in the reduction of sideoats grama.

NRCS Plant Materials Center

It’s giving the same backyard tension as the roommate grilling steaks, while my dog suffers.

The Blue Grama grass (Bouteloua gracilis) is typically cultivated as it adds beauty to floral arrangements.

Bouteloua gracilis is resistant to drought, deer, and pests. Incorporating it into your garden is a gift to wildlife, as it is a native plant. 

It serves as a nesting site and provides food for birds, pollinators, and small mammals. If you live on a farm with cows or other grazing animals, Bouteloua gracilis is tough enough to withstand their munching.

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Blue grama grass should be planted two months before the first frost in autumn. Till the area and add compost or mixed grit to improve percolation and drainage before planting.

Rake out any flaws or debris. Afterward, it's time to grade the area.

This attractive bluish grass is easy to care for and requires only a fraction of the normal turfgrass treatment that other cultivated types seem to need. If you fertilize, use a low-nitrogen grass fertilizer at the beginning of spring.

The sideoats grama, on the other hand, prefers sun exposure but will grow in light shade. It can thrive in a variety of soil types, from sandy to clay, as long as the soil drains well.

Since root rot can occur with this species, it should not be grown in overly moist environments. It does not require much maintenance as long as you provide a suitable environment for it to thrive.

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