Alphabetical Plant Listing

Bouteloua curtipendula (Side-Oats Grama)

Side-Oats Grass, Side-Oats Grama, Sideoats Grama, Banderilla, Banderita, Navajita


Bouteloua curtipendula (Side-Oats Grama) is a clump-forming, warm-season, perennial grass noted for its oat-like spikelets which are held mostly to one side of its arching flowering stems. Purplish at first, they bleach to a tan color in the fall. Appearing in early to mid-summer, they are continually produced through most of the summer. They rise above a dense foliage clump of narrow, blue-gray leaves which usually turn golden brown in the fall, and sometimes develop pretty hues of orange and red. Side-Oats Grama provides bird food (they love the ripe seeds), nesting material, and cover, as well as graze for mammals. Tough, drought tolerant, easy-care, Side-Oats Grama is a great choice for wildflower meadows, prairie restorations, and garden accents.

  • Grows up to 18-30 in. tall (45-75 cm) and 18-24 in. wide (45-60 cm). Freely self-seeds in optimal growing conditions.
  • Performs best in full sun, in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils. Tolerates a wide range of soils as long as they are well-drained. Drought and dry soil tolerant!
  • Most effective in mass plantings or groupings in prairies and meadows, native plant gardens, or naturalized areas. Can be used as a ground cover in dry spots or as a garden accent.
  • No serious pest or disease issues. Side-Oats Grama attracts birds and butterflies but is deer resistant.
  • Cut back old foliage to the ground in late winter.
  • Propagate by seed or root division. Easily propagated from seed sown unstratified in fall or stratified in spring. Sow 1/4 deep. Plants may be divided while dormant in spring or fall.
  • Native to North and South America, from Ontario to California, and south to Argentina.

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Requirements

Hardiness 4 – 9
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21
Plant Type Ornamental Grasses
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Height 1' – 3' (30cm – 90cm)
Spread 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm)
Spacing 36" – 48" (90cm – 120cm)
Water Needs Low
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Showy
Native Plants United States, California, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Pacific Northwest, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Rocky Mountains, Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
Tolerance Deer, Drought, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil
Attracts Birds, Butterflies
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Ground Covers
Garden Styles Gravel and Rock Garden, Mediterranean Garden, Prairie and Meadow

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Matt Lanvin (Flickr)

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.


Requirements

Hardiness 4 – 9
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21
Plant Type Ornamental Grasses
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Height 1' – 3' (30cm – 90cm)
Spread 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm)
Spacing 36" – 48" (90cm – 120cm)
Water Needs Low
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Showy
Native Plants United States, California, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Pacific Northwest, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Rocky Mountains, Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
Tolerance Deer, Drought, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil
Attracts Birds, Butterflies
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Ground Covers
Garden Styles Gravel and Rock Garden, Mediterranean Garden, Prairie and Meadow

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