Bouteloua gracilis
Blue grama is a tufted, warm-season grass native to Texas. It is known for its unique characteristic of seed spikes that resemble mosquito larvae, hanging from only one side of its flowering stems. This grass grows in prairies, plains, open rocky woodlands, and on railroad tracks in the Western U.S. It was a dominant grass in dry shortgrass prairies.
The narrow, bluish-gray leaf blades typically form a dense clump that grows 12-15" tall. In autumn, the foliage turns a golden brown, sometimes with hues of orange and red. Purplish-tinged flowers form on arching stems above the foliage in early to mid-summer, bringing the total height of the clump to about 20" tall. It is seed food source for birds, and is a larval host for at least six different Skipper Butterflies.
Blue grama grass thrives in dry to medium, well-drained soils and requires full sun. It can tolerate various soils, except for poorly drained wet ones. The grass exhibits excellent drought tolerance and freely self-seeds. It should be 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: 3-10
Origin: Southern & Western U.S.
Common Names include Blue Grama, Mosquito Grass
When you order plants from our nursery, you can expect them to arrive in the best possible condition. Our team carefully packs each order using sturdy, biodegradable packaging materials.
Your plants' appearance may vary depending on the season and their current growth stage. We may cut back the leafy growth of some plants to prepare them for shipment and transplanting.
5 Gallon and Up: Any plant purchased to ship over 5 Gallons will be shipped bare root. This means we will remove the plant from its original pot, remove the soil surrounding the roots, and wrap the roots with a biodegradable plastic bag. This reduces weight and the likelihood of damage during shipping.
Once your plants arrive, it is essential to plant them as soon as possible. This will help them rebound and thrive. If you cannot plant immediately, water regularly and keep the roots off heat-conducting surfaces.
Newly transplanted plants often require more water until their roots are well established. Plan to water them 1-3 times weekly for the first few months.