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Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

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Wednesday - August 06, 2014

From: Katy, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Seeds and Seeding, Grasses or Grass-like
Title: When does Bouteloua dactyloides (Buffalograss) go to seed in southern US?
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

When does Bouteloua dactyloides go to seed in the southern United States, mainly Texas?

ANSWER:

The easy part of the answer is:  Bouteloua dactyloides (Buffalograss) sets seed about 2 weeks after it blooms.  The difficult part of the answer is:  It can bloom beginning in April and bloom opportunistically when conditions are right until the first frost.  Depending on the location that could be as late as November or December.  In their book, Grasses of the Texas Hill Country, the Loflins say:  "Bloom time starts in April and sets seed shortly after flowering up to the first frost.  In some regions it produces seed throughout the year."
 

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