How to Grow and Care for Grama grasses

Blue Grama (*Bouteloua gracilis*) is a perennial grass native to North America. Blue Grama grows in Canada, the United States, and northern Mexico. It is valued as forage for livestock and for its ability to tolerate drought conditions.

Side-Oats Grama is a perennial prairie grass that grows in warm seasons. It is both drought-tolerant and cold-tolerant. Small flowers bloom in summer and fall. Side-Oats Grama is used as food for foraging livestock and planted for erosion control.

Buffalo grass (Bouteloua dactyloides) gets its name because it was a staple food source for the thunderous herds of buffalo that once roamed the interior of the North American continent. People are increasingly digging up their old lawns and replacing turf with buffalo grass because of the minimal maintenance requirements. You only have to cut this type of grass occasionally.

Red grama is scientifically known as Bouteloua trifida. It is native to northern and central Mexico and the southwestern United States, where it grows in desert scrubs and other dry areas.

Needle grama is a resilient grass known for its delicate, needle-like seed heads that rise above thin, tufted foliage. It thrives in arid landscapes where its drought-tolerant nature allows it to prosper with minimal moisture. This compact grower features a distinctive clumping habit, providing texture and movement to the terrain it inhabits.