Bouteloua gracilis

Bouteloua gracilis, commonly called blue grama or mosquito grass, is a tufted, warm-season, Texas native grass noted for its distinctive arrangement of mosquito larvae-like seed spikes hanging from only one side of its flowering stems. It is native to prairies, plains, open rocky woodlands, and railroad tracks throughout the Western U.S. It was a dominant grass of the dry shortgrass prairies.

Narrow, bluish-gray leaf blades typically form a dense clump growing 12-15" tall. Foliage turns golden brown in autumn, sometimes also developing attractive hues of orange and red. Inflorescences of purplish-tinged flowers appear on arching stems above the foliage in early to mid-summer, typically bringing the total height of the clump to 20" tall.

They are quickly grown, on average, in dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun. Can tolerate a wide range of soils, except poorly-drained wet ones. Excellent drought tolerance. Freely self-seeds. Cut to the ground in late winter before new shoots appear.