2 named cultivars

grassN. America Native

Blue Grama Grass

Q: What zones can Blue Grama Grass grow in?

Blue Grama Grass is hardy in USDA Zones 4–10. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Q: Is Blue Grama Grass deer resistant?

Yes — Blue Grama Grass is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

Q: When does Blue Grama Grass bloom?

Blue Grama Grass typically blooms in summer through late fall. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Q: Does Blue Grama Grass need full sun?

Blue Grama Grass does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.

Q: Is Blue Grama Grass drought tolerant?

Yes — once established (usually after the first full season), Blue Grama Grass handles dry spells with minimal watering. Water deeply its first year to build the root system that makes that possible.

Bouteloua gracilis

$13.32

The Story

Plant Bio

Bouteloua gracilis, blue grama, is a low clumping warm-season grass native from western and central Canada south to Mexico, reaching six inches to two feet. Fine blue-green to grey leaves form a dense tuft, and in summer the seed heads are held horizontally on one side of arching stems, curling as they dry into shapes often likened to eyebrows or mosquito larvae.

Those one-sided seed heads are unmistakable and hold their shape into winter, which is much of its ornamental value. It is a major component of the shortgrass prairie, exceptionally drought and heat tolerant, and increasingly used as a low-water lawn alternative that needs mowing only once or twice a season.

Uses & Benefits:

Distinctive one-sided seed heads held horizontally, holding form well into winter.

A genuine low-water lawn alternative needing mowing once or twice a year at most.

Seeds feed songbirds; the shortgrass prairie it forms supports a wide invertebrate community.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Grass

Height

15 inches

Width

21 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Water

Low

Humidity

Low

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Western and central Canada to Mexico

Toxicity

Non-toxic

Marketplace

Where to Buy

American Meadows

<1 Gal PotBarerootTrays

In Stock$13.32

Sooner Plant Farm

1+ Gal Pot

In Stock$35.00

Shipping costs Year-round shipping Free shipping

Planting

How to Grow

Plant or sow in late spring once soil has warmed.
Choose full sun; it will not tolerate shade.
Space about a foot apart for a matrix planting.
Water to establish, then rarely.
Do not feed; lean soil keeps it tight.
Cut or mow back in late winter.

Pro Tip

Wait for warm soil before planting — as a warm-season grass it does nothing until the ground genuinely heats up, and cold-soil sowings simply rot.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Plant in full sun and dry soil ☀️
Wait for warm soil before sowing 🌱
Leave seed heads for winter form 🌾
Cut back once in late winter ✂️

Don't

Plant in shade ❌
Water or feed it once established ❌
Expect growth before the soil warms ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Monitor
Prune

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Low-water lawn alternativeShortgrass prairie and meadow matrixDry slope and gravel planting

Companion Plants

Little Bluestem Butterfly Weed Purple Coneflower Prairie Dropseed Leadplant

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Blue Grama Grass questions

What zones can Blue Grama Grass grow in?

Blue Grama Grass is hardy in USDA Zones 4–10. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Blue Grama Grass deer resistant?

Yes — Blue Grama Grass is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Blue Grama Grass bloom?

Blue Grama Grass typically blooms in summer through late fall. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Blue Grama Grass need full sun?

Blue Grama Grass does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.

Is Blue Grama Grass drought tolerant?

Yes — once established (usually after the first full season), Blue Grama Grass handles dry spells with minimal watering. Water deeply its first year to build the root system that makes that possible.