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California Native Plant

Bouteloua curtipendula

Side-Oats Grama

Plant photo of: Bouteloua curtipendula
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Information by: Jerry Sortomme        Photographer: Mountain States Nursery

 

Description

Short prairie grass of North America 2500-7000'. Warm season bunch grass. Extremely cold hardy. Full sun. Late spring & summer flower spikes often pink or purple. 18-24"H x 12-15"W. After flowering, seeds appear on one side of spike. Blue-green leaves turns to dry tan. Mow in early spring for clean regrowth. Very cold hardy into Canada. Birds and wildlife relish seeds. Larval food plant for many skipper butterflies. Cut back in fall.

 

Plant Type

Perennial, Grass

Height Range

1-3'

Flower Color

Purple

Flower Season

Spring, Summer

Leaf Color

Green

Bark Color

n/a

Fruit Color

n/a

Fruit Season

n/a

Sun

Full

Water

Low

Growth Rate

Fast, Moderate

Soil Type

Sandy, Loam, Rocky

Soil Condition

Average, Poor, Well-drained

Soil pH

Neutral, Basic

Adverse Factors

n/a

Design Styles

Meadow, Ranch, Spanish, Wild Garden

Accenting Features

Showy Flowers

Seasonal Interest

Spring, Summer

Location Uses

Perennial Border, Foundation, Lawn, With Rocks

Special Uses

Erosion Control, Mass Planting, Lawn Substitute, Naturalizing, Small Spaces

Attracts Wildlife

n/a

Water Saving Tip:

Replace turf with groundcovers, trees, and shrubs. If you have areas where no one uses the grass, patches that do not grow well, or a turf area too small to water without runoff, consider replacing the turf with water-efficient landscaping.