Skip to main content
Bouteloua curtipendula (Sideoats Grama)
1 / 5
© BJ Stacey, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC) · iNaturalist
Grasses

Bouteloua curtipendula

Sideoats Grama

Poaceae
North America — from southern Canada south through the Great Plains, Great Basin, and into Mexico; the state grass of Texas

At a Glance

TypeGrass
HabitClumping
FoliageDeciduous
Height18-36 inches (45-90 cm)
Width12-18 inches (30-45 cm)
Maturity2 years

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

3 - 9
Zone 3Zone 4Zone 5Zone 6Zone 7Zone 8Zone 9
These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.
What's my zone? →
Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Attracts ButterfliesDeer ResistantDrought Tolerant
Native to North America
Maintenancevery low

Overview

Bouteloua curtipendula is sideoats grama (sideoats grama grass), a warm-season clumping perennial grass growing 18-36 inches (45-90 cm) tall and 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) wide. Blue-green narrow blades 0.1-0.2 inch (2-4 mm) wide and 6-10 inches (15-25 cm) long. Oat-like spikelets arranged in a row along one side of the flowering stem — the 'sideoats' arrangement is the species' defining trait. The spikelets are purplish when fresh, drying to straw-tan. In the grass family (Poaceae). Native to the Great Plains — the state grass of Texas. Warm-season: grows actively at 70-90°F (21-32°C). Goes dormant (turns tan/straw) from October through April — the dormant brown appearance for 6-7 months is the primary limitation for year-round plantings. Tolerates a wide range of soils: clay, rocky, alkaline, poor, and sandy soils with pH 5.5-8.0. Does not tolerate wet or waterlogged sites. Butterfly larval host for several skipper species (Hesperia spp.). Deer-resistant. Drought-tolerant once established. Non-toxic. Zones 3-9. Full sun. Growth rate is moderate. Native to North America.

Native Range

Native to North America — from southern Canada south through the Great Plains, Great Basin, and into Mexico. The state grass of Texas.

Suggested Uses

Grown in prairie restorations, native plant gardens, meadows, and dry slopes. Native to the Great Plains. Tolerates poor dry alkaline rocky soils. Butterfly larval host. Deer-resistant. Drought-tolerant. Non-toxic. Zones 3-9.

How to Identify

Identified by oat-like spikelets arranged in a row along one side of the flowering stem — the 'sideoats' arrangement. Blue-green narrow blades on a clumping warm-season grass. The one-sided spikelet arrangement distinguishes B. curtipendula from B. gracilis (blue grama — spikelets in a curved comb shape) and B. dactyloides (buffalo grass — low mat-forming). In Poaceae.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1'6" - 3'
Width/Spread1' - 1'6"

Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years

Colors

Flower Colors

purple
tan

Foliage Colors

blue green

Fall Foliage Colors

tan
straw

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~6 weeks
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Summer
Mid to late summer (July-September). Oat-like spikelets in a one-sided row along the stem. Purplish when fresh, drying to straw-tan. Wind-pollinated. 6 weeks of bloom. Dried seed heads persist through winter.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Oat-like spikelets arranged in a row along one side of the stem (the 'sideoats' arrangement), purplish at first, drying to straw-tan

Foliage Description

Blue-green, narrow blades 0.1-0.2 inch (2-4 mm) wide, 6-10 inches (15-25 cm) long; turns tan to straw in fall dormancy

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full Sun
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 8.0(Neutral)
357912
Soil Types
sandloamclayrocky
Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Very Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

1-2 years from seed to full clump

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Full sun (6+ hours). Well-drained soil pH 5.5-8.0 — tolerates clay, rocky, alkaline, and poor soils. Does not tolerate wet or waterlogged sites. Drought-tolerant once established. Cut back to 3-4 inches (7-10 cm) in late winter. Leave dried stems through winter. Deer-resistant. Non-toxic. Zones 3-9.

Pruning

Cut back all foliage and stems to 3-4 inches (7-10 cm) in late winter to early spring (February-March) before new growth emerges. Leave dried stems and seed heads through fall and winter for texture and wildlife habitat. Do not cut or mow in mid-season.

Pruning Schedule

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
early spring

Maintenance Level

very low

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Non-toxic