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Blue Grama
Bouteloua gracilis

Blue Grama is a shortgrass species that does well in dry soils, as it is drought-resistant. It reaches a height of 12-14" in full flower. It has seedheads which suspend horizontally from the end of each stem. Blue Grama performs well as a turf alternative.

USDA symbol: BOGR2

General Information

Plant TypeGrass
Height1 foot
Light ExposureSun
Soil MoistureDry
Bloom ColorGreen, Brown
Blue Grama (Blue Grama<div><em class="small">Bouteloua gracilis</em></div>)
Photo credit: Blue Thumb (Click to enlarge)

Tolerances

Flooding / Inundation ToleranceLow
General Resilience6
Salt ToleranceMedium
Stress ToleranceDrought Tolerant, Fire Tolerant

Pollinator Value: High

Bloom MonthsJuly to September
Larval Host ofButterflies
Specific Pollinators HostedHesperia uncas

Project Planning

Project TypeBoulevard, Rain Garden, Shoreline Buffer
Coefficient of Conservatism6
Herbivore SensitivityHigh
LifespanPerennial
Rate of SpreadFast
Soil StabilizationDeep
Vegetative ReproductionClonal

Range

CountyBecker, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Chippewa, Clay, Cottonwood, Dakota, Douglas, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Marshall, McLeod, Morrison, Murray, Nicollet, Norman, Otter Tail, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Sherburne, Stearns, Stevens, Todd, Traverse, Winona, Yellow Medicine
EcoregionDriftless Area, Lake Agassiz Plain, North Central Hardwood Forests, Northern Glaciated Plains, Northern Lakes and Forests, Northern Minnesota Wetlands, Western Cornbelt Plains
Approximate Eco ProvinceEastern Broadleaf Forest, Laurentian Mixed Forest, Prairie Parkland, Tallgrass Aspen Parklands