Bouteloua curtipendula (Sideoats Grama) is a versatile perennial grass that thrives in well-drained, medium-textured soils and adapts well to dry to moist conditions. Preferring full sun to part shade, this heat- and drought-tolerant grass grows in bunches up to 3 feet tall. Its distinctive oat-like spikelets line one side of the stem, turning from purplish-red to tan in the fall. Sideoats Grama is ideal for prairie restorations, wildflower meadows, and ornamental garden accents, providing food and cover for birds and serving as a larval host for Green and Dotted Skipper butterflies.
Scientific Name: Bouteloua curtipendula
Origin: Texas, much of the U.S., Mexico
Height: 1-3 feet
Spread: 12-24 inches
Light: Full Sun, Part Shade
Water Needs: Medium
USDA Zones: 3-9
Bloom Dates: June to November
Larval Host: Green Skipper butterfly, Dotted Skipper butterfly
