Blue Grama Grass

Bouteloua gracilis

Poaceae

• Full sun
• 12-18" tall x 12-18" wide
• Drought Tolerant: Yes
• Evergreen: Semi-evergreen
• Flower Color and bloom time: Red-tinged flowers fading to straw color, June-September
• Wildlife benefits: Larval host for skipper butterflies, provides seed for birds and small mammals, cover for ground-nesting birds

Blue Grama is a densely tufted, low-growing warm-season bunchgrass native to the western United States from southern Canada to Mexico. In Spokane, this native prairie grass thrives in full sun and well-drained soils, including sandy loams, clay loams, and rocky or gravelly soils. It tolerates alkaline pH and performs well even in poor soil conditions. This clump-forming grass develops deep, vigorous roots extending 12-18 inches from the crown and penetrating 3-6 feet deep, contributing to its exceptional drought tolerance.

The narrow, blue-gray to blue-green leaves form compact mounds 6-12 inches tall, with distinctive flowering stems rising above the foliage from June through September. The unique flowers resemble tiny brushes or mosquito larvae suspended horizontally from one side of the stem, creating an intriguing architectural element. Flowers emerge red-tinged before bleaching to an attractive straw color that persists through fall and winter. The semi-evergreen foliage typically turns golden brown in autumn, sometimes developing pretty hues of orange and red.

Blue Grama provides exceptional wildlife value as a larval host plant for several species of skipper butterflies. The seed heads provide important food for songbirds, game birds, and small mammals, while the dense tufts offer valuable cover for ground-nesting birds. This grass is highly palatable to grazing animals and was a dominant species of the shortgrass prairie ecosystem. The deep root system prevents soil erosion and improves soil structure over time.

In landscape applications, Blue Grama excels as a drought-tolerant lawn alternative, rock garden specimen, or prairie restoration component. It can be mowed regularly to 2 inches or left unmowed to showcase its attractive seed heads. The grass works beautifully in mass plantings, perennial borders, naturalized meadows, and as erosion control on slopes. Plant with other native prairie grasses like Little Bluestem, Prairie Junegrass, and Idaho Fescue, or mix with drought-tolerant perennials such as buckwheats, blanket flower, and yarrow. The unique comb-like flower spikes add interest to cut flower arrangements, fresh or dried.