Sideoats Grama
Bouteloua curtipendula
Narrow, bluish-grey blades form a tight, upright clump. July blooms turn into unique coppery-red seeds that hang down one side of the stem into late summer and fall. It's the perfect food and cover for birds and it's the larval host for the Green Skipper Butterfly. Drought tolerant and easy to grow.
Dry open glades and prairie from Washington south to California east to Maine and Florida.
Map Credit: The Biota of North America
Map Key: Green (native), Teal (native, adventive), Blue (present), Yellow (present & rare), Red (extinct)
Sideoats Grama is enjoyed by grazing livestock, wild turkeys, and green and dotted skippers. Texas has named Sideoats Grama their official state grass.
Grows well in dry to moist, well-drained soil.
Choosing the right plants for your garden can seem like a daunting task but we’re here to help. Our horticulturists have spent a considerable amount of time researching and writing our beautiful, American Beauties plant tags to help you be successful. First of all, when you see an American Beauties branded pot at your garden center you can be confident that the plant is native to your area and a responsible choice.
When you look at our tag you’ll find information about the plants natural habitat. That will give you a clue to how it will work in your backyard. For instance if the plant is naturally founded and moist, shade and you have full sun, it’s not the plant for you. The “Features” section gives you an overview or plant description so you’ll know what to expect. While the “Benefits” section talks about the plants strong suits and how the plant will benefit wildlife.
A Special Note About Exposure
Full sun: Prefers six or more hours of direct sunshine a day
Partial shade: Thrives in three to six hours of daily sunshine
Shade: Generally does well with less than three hours of sun per day. Having said that even shade loving plants will struggle in extremely deep shade.
DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCES
Best Plants for Bees - Double sided printout for download
Best Plants for Butterflies - Double sided printout for download