Lawn Grasses

Bouteloua dactyloides

Buffalo Grass

Poaceae
North America — Great Plains from Montana to Texas and Mexico; the only native grass widely used as a lawn grass in the US

At a Glance

TypeGrass
HabitSpreading
FoliageDeciduous
Height2-6 inches (5-15 cm) mowed; 4-8 inches (10-20 cm) unmowed
Widthindefinite spread by stolons
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

Deer ResistantDrought Tolerant
Native to North America
Maintenancevery low

Overview

Bouteloua dactyloides is buffalo grass (buffalograss), a warm-season perennial spreading grass native to the North American Great Plains, growing 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) mowed. Blue-green to gray-green fine-textured curling blades. Spreads by stolons (above-ground runners) — no rhizomes. In the grass family (Poaceae). The only native grass widely used as a lawn grass in the US. Warm-season: grows actively at 80-95°F (27-35°C). Goes dormant (turns golden-brown) from late fall through spring — the dormant period is 5-7 months in northern zones. The lowest-maintenance lawn grass: mow 2-3 times per year, no irrigation needed once established, no fertilization needed on native soils. Dioecious: male and female flowers on separate plants — female-only cultivars produce no seed heads. Does not tolerate shade — requires 8+ hours of direct sun. Slow to establish from seed (1-2 years to full density). Does not tolerate high humidity or high rainfall — performs poorly in the eastern US. Zones 3-9. Drought-tolerant. Non-toxic. Perennial. Growth rate is slow.

Native Range

Native to North America — Great Plains from Montana south to Texas and Mexico. The only native grass widely used as a lawn grass in the US.

Suggested Uses

Used as a low-maintenance warm-season lawn grass in full sun (zones 3-9). Great Plains and western US. Naturalized meadows. No irrigation. Not for shade. Not for humid eastern US. Dormant in winter. Native to North America. Perennial.

How to Identify

Identified by fine-textured curling blue-green blades on a low spreading mat with stolons (above-ground runners). The curling blade tips and the lack of rhizomes distinguish buffalo grass from Bermuda grass (which has both stolons and rhizomes). Dioecious. In Poaceae.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2" - 6"
Width/Spread1' - 8'

Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years

Colors

Flower Colors

green
tan

Foliage Colors

blue
green
gray

Fall Foliage Colors

brown
gold

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~6 weeks
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Summer
Summer (June-August). Inconspicuous: male flower stalks rise above the foliage as small flag-like spikes; female flowers are hidden in the leaf axils. Wind-pollinated. Dioecious.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

Blue-green to gray-green, fine-textured curling blades; turns golden-brown when dormant (late fall through spring)

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full Sun
Requires 8-12 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 Range6.5 - 8.5(Alkaline)
357912
Soil Types
clayloam
Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Very Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

1-2 years to full density from seed; faster from plugs

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Full sun (8+ hours) — no shade tolerance. Mow at 2-3 inches (5-7 cm) or leave unmowed. Mow 2-3 times per year. No irrigation needed once established. No fertilization on native soils. Dormant (golden-brown) late fall through spring. Zones 3-9. Perennial.

Pruning

Mow at 2-3 inches (5-7 cm) or leave unmowed as a naturalized ground cover. Mow 2-3 times per year. No dethatching needed. The lowest-maintenance lawn grass.

Maintenance Level

very low

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Non-toxic