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Blue grama
Bouteloua gracilis
- Warm-season
- Native
- Bunch-type
- Drought tolerant
- Cold hardy
- Low input
- Full sun
Blue grama is a native prairie bunchgrass of the Great Plains and dry West that can be kept as a low-water, low-feed lawn in full sun. It is tough against drought, heat and cold, but it does not handle shade or foot traffic.
Mowing & careAll lawn grasses
- Type: Warm-season · Bunch-type (a bunchgrass in the southern states; forms a sod in northern states, mountains or under heavy grazing; no stolons)
- Mow at: About 2 in. while a new lawn is filling in; once established, mow only if needed at the mower's highest setting, or leave it unmowed for better drought resistance (Colorado State)
- Shade: Not shade tolerant (Colorado State; USDA NRCS).
- Drought: Excellent (Colorado State); good (USDA NRCS).
- Plant by: Seed. Sod is not available (New Mexico State). It sprouts and establishes quickly but is hard to sow because the seed is fluffy and full of chaff (Colorado State).
What is blue grama?
Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) is a native, warm-season perennial grass with a big root system. USDA NRCS says it grows as a bunchgrass in the southern states and forms a sod farther north, in the mountains or under heavy grazing. Unmowed, it stands about 6 to 24 in. tall.
On the range, it is valued for forage and erosion control. In landscapes, it is used for low-maintenance turf where water is short. Colorado State lists few pest problems, low fertilizer needs and infrequent mowing among its strengths.
USDA NRCS describes range releases such as Lovington, Hachita (the most drought-tolerant blue grama tested in New Mexico), Alma and the Bad River ecotype for the northern Plains. It is often compared with buffalograss, the other native Great Plains lawn grass.
How to identify blue grama
Pull up a few shoots and look closely where the leaf blade meets the stem. Here is what to check on blue grama:
- Ligule: A fringe of hairs (ciliate).
- Collar: Sparse long white hairs where the blade meets the sheath.
- Leaf blade: Mostly basal, curly, with the edges rolled up.
- Sheath: Smooth or hairy.
- Seedhead: 1 to 4 branches per stem that curve when dry, with no stout bristle at the tip of the branch.
- Growth habit: Bunch-forming and sometimes rhizomatous; no stolons. About 6 to 24 in. tall unmowed (USDA NRCS); Oklahoma State gives 10 to 70 cm.
Where blue grama is grown in the US
Blue grama is a major native warm-season grass of the Great Plains, found on plains, prairies and foothills across most western states (USDA NRCS). Oklahoma State notes it grows in the western two-thirds of Oklahoma, on dry, open sites with shallow soils.
As turf it is used for low-maintenance areas, such as golf course roughs (USDA NRCS), and Colorado State includes it in its lawn species guide as a native choice. Colorado State rates its cold, heat and drought tolerance excellent. Its species guide says it is not adapted above 6,500 ft, while its native-lawn guide says blue grama does better than buffalograss above 7,000 ft, where buffalograss often has too short a growing season.
It is a grass for full sun, dry ground and light use. It does not take shade, traffic, acidic soils or frequent flooding.
Blue grama pros and cons
Pros
- Native to the Great Plains and western US
- Excellent drought, heat and cold tolerance
- Low fertilizer needs and infrequent mowing
- Few pest problems
- Sprouts and establishes quickly from seed
Cons
- Not shade or traffic tolerant
- Does not spread by runners, so it does not knit a tight sod
- Seed is costly and fluffy, so it is hard to sow (Colorado State)
- Late spring green-up and long dormant season
- Not adapted above about 6,500 ft in Colorado
- Dislikes acidic soils and frequent flooding
Grasses that look like blue grama
| Grass | How to tell it apart |
|---|---|
| Buffalograss Bouteloua dactyloides | Leaves and shoots look much alike, but buffalograss spreads by stolons and has separate male and female plants, with short spikes on the males and burs hidden in the leaves on the females. Blue grama has no stolons, and its seedhead has 1 to 4 branches that curve when dry. |
How and when to plant blue grama
Ways to plant: Seed. Sod is not available (New Mexico State). It sprouts and establishes quickly but is hard to sow because the seed is fluffy and full of chaff (Colorado State).
Seeding rate: 1 to 3 lb per 1,000 sq ft (Colorado State species guide); 3 to 5 lb raked in for native buffalograss and blue grama lawns (Colorado State native-lawn guide); 1 to 2 lb (New Mexico State). Plant 1/4 to 1/2 in. deep (USDA NRCS).
Germination: No day count given. Seedlings must grow their permanent roots within 6 to 10 weeks of sprouting or they often die, and the soil surface must stay moist for 2 to 4 days at a time for that to happen (USDA NRCS).
When to plant: New Mexico State: May 15 to Aug. 1 in the north and April 15 to Sept. 1 in the south. USDA NRCS: April to mid-May in the central Great Plains, a little earlier in the southern Plains, and June 15 to July 15 in the Southwest.
Seeding dates change from state to state. See when to plant grass seed by state, or our Pennsylvania grass seed guide if you are in PA.
How to care for blue grama
Mowing: Mow new seedings at about 2 in. Once established, mow only when needed at the highest setting, or leave it unmowed; Colorado State says unmowed native grass resists drought better and that native lawns generally need only one mowing a year, with the debris collected.
Watering: Keep new seedings evenly moist with short, frequent watering for the first 3 to 4 weeks, then cut back to once or twice a week through the first season (Colorado State). Established lawns need little or no water; for a greener look in dry summers, Colorado State suggests 1 to 2 in. every 4 to 5 weeks.
Fertilizing: Low fertility needs (Colorado State). New Mexico State suggests 0.5 to 0.75 lb N per 1,000 sq ft every other week for 6 to 8 weeks after seeding to help a new lawn establish.
Nitrogen per year: Low fertility needs; no yearly rate given (Colorado State).
Overseeding: Reseed thin spots during the warm-season planting window. Start with a firm, weed-free seedbed (USDA NRCS).
Questions we get about blue grama
Blue grama vs buffalograss: which is better for a lawn?
Both are native, low-water warm-season grasses. Buffalograss spreads by stolons and forms a sod. Blue grama is not a sod-forming grass, but Colorado State notes rapid germination and establishment from seed. Colorado State says neither handles shade or heavy traffic well.
How do I seed blue grama?
Colorado State suggests 1 to 3 lb per 1,000 sq ft; USDA NRCS says plant 1/4 to 1/2 in. deep in a firm, weed-free seedbed. Keep the surface moist so seedlings can root in their first weeks.
Does blue grama grow in shade?
No. Colorado State and USDA NRCS both say it is not shade tolerant.
Can blue grama handle cold winters?
Yes. Colorado State rates its cold tolerance excellent, and USDA NRCS describes a Bad River ecotype meant for zone 3 in the northern Plains.
When should I plant blue grama?
In warm soil. New Mexico State lists May 15 to Aug. 1 in the north and April 15 to Sept. 1 in the south. USDA NRCS gives April to mid-May for the central Great Plains.
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Sources: Blue Grama Plant Guide (BOGR2), USDA NRCS · Blue Grama plant profile, Oklahoma State University Extension · Turfgrass Species Selection Guidelines (GardenNotes #561), Colorado State University Extension · Native Lawn Establishment in Colorado, Colorado State University Extension (rev. Dec. 2022) · Turfgrass Establishment (Guide H-509), New Mexico State University · Turf & Roadside Plant Identification, Oklahoma State University
Checked Nov. 14, 2026. Pesticides: always read and follow the product label. Applicator licensing rules vary by state.
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