Native Plants
Plant Database
Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.
Bouteloua eriopoda
Bouteloua eriopoda (Torr.) Torr.
Black Grama
Poaceae (Grass Family)
Synonym(s): Chondrosum eriopodum
USDA Symbol: boer4
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
A tufted grass with 16-24 in., sometimes taller, wiry, white-woolly culms becoming widely spreading. Ascending spikes, 4 or 5 per culm, are each about an inch long.
From the Image Gallery
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Grass/Grass-like
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Venation: Parallel
Fruit Type: Caryopsis
Size Notes: Up to about 30 inches tall, often shorter.
Leaf: Green
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Red , Yellow , GreenBloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct
Distribution
USA: AZ , CA , CO , KS , NM , NV , OK , TX , UT , WYNative Distribution: E. Mohave Desert to CO, OK, TX & n. Mex.; reported from WY
Native Habitat: Prairie, Plains, Meadows, Pastures, Savannas, Hillsides, Slopes
Growing Conditions
Water Use: LowLight Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Soil Description: Dry, rocky soils. Limestone-based, Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay
Find Seed or Plants
Order seed of this species from Native American Seed and help support the Wildflower Center.
View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Sibley Nature Center - Midland, TX
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Austin, TX
Bibliography
Bibref 946 - Gardening with Prairie Plants: How to Create Beautiful Native Landscapes (2002) Wasowski, SallyBibref 995 - Native Landscaping from El Paso to L.A. (2000) Wasowski, S. and A. Wasowski
Bibref 291 - Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender
Search More Titles in Bibliography
Web Reference
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Additional resources
USDA: Find Bouteloua eriopoda in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Bouteloua eriopoda in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Bouteloua eriopoda
Metadata
Record Modified: 2022-12-16Research By: TWC Staff