Species Hairy Grama
purple-pink flowers with pink hairs, green leaves and brown-green stems

Hairy Grama

Bouteloua hirsuta

Also Known As - Hairy Gramma
Hairy Grama is an attractive native grass species found in the western United States and parts of Canada. Growing up to 3-4 feet tall, it is a cool season grass that produces tight clumps of slender, hairy stems and narrow, blue-green leaves. It is very tolerant of drought conditions and grows in many different soil types. It is a great choice for erosion control, forage production, or as a low-maintenance ornamental in landscaping projects. It produces profuse pinkish-purple flowers in mid-summer and has a high salt tolerance.

Watering:

Average

Hardiness Zone:

Sun:

full sun,part shade

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Thorny:

Yes

Care Level:

Low

watering

Sideoats Grama should typically be watered during the summer season when the top 1-2 inches of soil is dry. During the hot summer season, Sideoats Grama should be watered 2 to 3 times per week. It is important to water the plants deeply to ensure the roots receive the moisture. Each plant should receive about 1-2 inches of water each time. During the fall and winter, Sideoats Grama should only be watered when the soil becomes dry, which can be once or twice a month depending on the amount of rainfall.

sunlight

Sideoats Grama (Bouteloua curtipendula var. curtipendula) is a plant species that prefers full sun, meaning it does best when it receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. As a warm-season grass, its foliage develops in late spring or early summer and will stay green until fall when temperatures drop again. During the hottest days of summer, it tolerates a little afternoon shade to prevent scorching of its leaves. Avoid shady spots that are too dense, as they don't provide enough middle-ground sunlight for optimal growth.

pruning

Sideoats Grama is best pruned in the late spring or early summer. Pruning should be done to maintain a desired height and to remove any dead or injured stems. Generally, no more than 1/4 of the grass should be removed at 1 pruning. For a more formal look, up to 1/3 of the grass can be removed. Take care to avoid pruning in the late summer and early fall to prevent dormancy during the cold winter. Prune the grass slightly above the ground with hedge clippers or shears.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Harvest Fruit

Starts Flowering

Harvest Fruit

⚠️ Perenual and its members cannot be held liable for any health issues that may arise from the information provided on the website or from using any of the plants found on the site. The information provided is intended to be used as general guidelines only.