Blue Gramma Grass

Bouteloua gracilis

Bouteloua gracilis 80% of ETo at midsummer. Photo: SK Reid.

Summary

Commonly called blue grama grass or eyelash grass, Bouteloua gracilis is a long-lived prairie grass native to North America. This tidy bunching grass puts up attractive long spikes with seedheads almost at a 90° angle to the stem. There was no significant difference in growth or appearance between irrigation treatments in our trial, and plants were completely unbothered by pests or disease.

This tough and appealing perennial grass is easily grown in a low-water garden. The only maintenance required to keep it looking attractive is an annual short haircut to remove old leaves and flowering stems in late winter or very early spring.

Blue gramma grass seed heads close-up. Photo: SK Reid.

Growth and Quality Data

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Blue gramma grass seed heads. Photo: SK Reid.