Blue grama
Bouteloua gracilis
Eyelash seed heads; a mowable, water-wise native lawn grass.
Hardiness: zones 3 to 10
Light: full sun
Size: about 1 ft tall, 1 ft wide
From: W. North America
Drought-hardy once established
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: wildlife.
Native to: Great Plains & Texas, Rockies & Great Basin, Desert Southwest, Western Canada. Hardy in zones 3 to 10.
The story
Blue grama is the grass of the shortgrass prairie and the state grass of both Colorado and New Mexico. Its seed heads sit sideways on the stem like tiny eyebrows, or a row of combs.
Planting
Full sun and dry soil. Sow in late spring once the soil is warm, or plant plugs.
Growing
Water to establish, then rarely. As a lawn, mow it a few times a year, or not at all.
Harvest and use
A native lawn that lives on rainfall in much of the West. Host plant for several skippers, and seed for birds.
What to watch for
It goes tan in drought and cold; that is rest, not death. Heavy foot traffic wears it.
See if Blue grama fits your yard
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More native and wild plants
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home