Blue Grama
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.
Height: .75’-2’Spread: 1.5’-2'
Bloom: June-August
Light: Full Sun
Water: Low
Zone: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Origin: Southern & Western U.S.