Utah State University

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Bouteloua gracili

Common Name Blue Gramagrass

Family Poaceae

Description
Blue grama is a perennial grass with a tufted head, originating from a knotty base. It is a "bunch-type" grass that can be used as a specimen or as a turf. Flower culms of spikelets can reach heights of .6 meters tall. Leaf blades are .5-2.2 mm wide. This grass is highly palatable to wildlife and resistant to drought and cold conditions. Blue gramagrass generally remains dormat for most of the usual growing season, breaking dormancy only in the late summer.

Range
Native to the Great Plains. Can be found in most counties in Utah and throughout the intermountain west on mountain slopes.. Elevation: to 8,500ft.

Culture
Tolerates poor soil conditions, prefers moderate soil conditions. Heat and cold tolerant, low water use. Zones 4 - 8.

Value
Another small-statured shortgrass prairie plant that is very attractive. Only 12-18" high, blue grama grass has bluish-green foliage color like buffalograss, but has a very unusual seed head that looks like a waving eye brow that is quite attractive. It addition it is very drought tolerant. Can be used singly or in turf settings, usually with other prairie grass mixtures.

Propagation
Can sow from seed, or plant as sod mixed with buffalograss. Sow seed in plugs with buffalograss or in a seed mix on the desired turf area. This grass germinates best with fluctuating temperatures between 55 degrees night to 90 degrees day. Keep moist until full germination has occurred

A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise.
Aldo Leopold