Native Plant Database

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Grass/Grass-like
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Arrangement: Basal
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Size Class: 1-3 ft.
Leaf Shape: Linear
Leaf Venation: Parallel
Inflorescence: Spike
Fruit Type: Grain
Size Notes: Foliage normally no more than 4 inches high, seedheads 1 to 2 feet.
Leaf Color: Gray-Green
Fruit Color: Bluish green

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA , CO , CT , ID , IL , IA , KS , ME , MA , MI , MN , MO , MT , NE , NV , NM , NY , ND , OH , OK , SC , SD , TX , UT , WI , WY
Canada: AB , MB , ON , SK
Native Distribution: Western North American from southern Canada to southern Mexico. Western Ontario to Alberta, south through Illinois to western Missouri, Texas, and southern California, through much of Mexico.
Native Habitat: Dry prairies; plains. A dominant grass in dry shortgrass prairies. An understory grass in moister, mixed prairies.
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low , Medium
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Drought Tolerance: High
Cold Tolerant: yes
Heat Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Well-drained, low organic content, gravelly soils or sandy loams, clays. Calcareous or granitic.
Conditions Comments: The most drought-tolerant native turf grass, more so than Buffalograss. Can survive with as little as 7 inches of rain annually. The drier it is, the less likely it will be to form a solid mat by rhizomes; it will stay in separate clumps. For this reason, it is often mixed with Buffalograss and/or wildflowers for a solid cover. The taller you let it grow, the less water it will need, because its roots will be shaded.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Shortgrass meadow, accent, perennial garden, turf
Use Wildlife: Graze, Seeds-granivorous birds
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Attracts: Birds , Butterflies
Larval Host: Skippers

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Bouteloua gracilis is a larval host and/or nectar source for:

Garita Skipperling (Oarisma garita) Larval Host Learn more at BAMONA	Uncas Skipper (Hesperia uncas) Larval Host Learn more at BAMONA	Pahaska Skipper (Hesperia pahaska) Larval Host Learn more at BAMONA	Green Skipper (Hesperia viridis) Larval Host Learn more at BAMONA
Rhesus Skipper (Polites rhesus) Larval Host Learn more at BAMONA	Simius Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes simius) Larval Host Learn more at BAMONA

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds
Description: Most easily propagated from seed (1/2-2 lbs. PLS per 1000 sq. ft.).
Commercially Avail: yes
Maintenance: To maintain a solid cover, water sparingly once a week to once a month, depending on region. Can be mowed, but will need less water if left tall.

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Find Seed or Plants

Order seed of this species from Native American Seed and help support the Wildflower Center.

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Question: Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, I am having trouble with my lawn, specifically with the crabgrass in it. It now covers over 1/3 of it. I started using corn gluten meal this year, with limited tangible success. Corn gluten meal is a pre-emergent and sometimes hit-or-miss on when to apply it. Is there an environmentally responsible POST-emergent weed control product that I can apply to hit the crabgrass on multiple fronts? In the near future, I hope to transition/replace my exotic grass with native alternatives. Thank you.
click here to view the full question and answer

Question: We have been required by code to build a detention pond for new church buildings in the Webster, TX (Clear Lake) area. There is a serious erosion of soil from water runoff from the building roof needing immediate attention to stabilize the slope, then plant native turf grasses. The distance between the building and the pond rim is about 14' maximum. Seeking advice on erosion control matting and choice of seed or sod grasses.
click here to view the full question and answer

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Texas Discovery Gardens - Dallas, TX
Sibley Nature Center - Midland, TX
Native Plant Society of Texas - Fredericksburg, TX

Bibliography

Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.
Field Guide to Western Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides) (1999) Opler, P.A. and A.B. Wright
Gardening with Prairie Plants: How to Create Beautiful Native Landscapes (2002) Wasowski, S.
Native Landscaping from El Paso to L.A. (2000) Wasowski, S. and A. Wasowski
* Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Bouteloua gracilis in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Bouteloua gracilis in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Bouteloua gracilis