SafePlants

Sideoats Grama (Bouteloua curtipendula)

Sideoats Grama is a native perennial grass known for its distinctive appearance and adaptability. Often used for forage, soil conservation, and recreational planting, it's a valuable addition to prairies and landscapes. Its unique oat-like seed arrangement and drought tolerance make it a popular choice for both practical and aesthetic purposes.

Considerations for Pets

• The plant produces small, oat-like seeds.
• The stems can be wiry.

Considerations for Children

• The plant produces small, oat-like seeds.
• The stems can be wiry.

Common Names

• Sideoats Grama
• Side-Oats Grama

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Bouteloua curtipendula
• Family: Poaceae (Grass family)
• Synonym: Chloris curtipendula Michx.
• Variety: Bouteloua curtipendula var. curtipendula

Distribution and Habitat

• Sideoats Grama has an exceptionally wide natural distribution throughout the United States, and is most abundant in Texas.
• It is native to open rocky woodlands and mixed grass prairies.
• It is also found in Wisconsin prairies and South Texas.
• South Texas Germplasm sideoats grama is a blend of populations collected in Atascosa, Frio, Medina, Uvalde, and Val Verde Counties of South Texas.
• It is also part of the Conservation and Research Plan for New England.

Morphological Characteristics

• It is a bunchy or sod-forming grass.
• Stems grow from strong, scaly rhizomes.
• Stems typically reach 2-3 feet in height and are erect and wiry.
• Culms (stems) are light green, glabrous (smooth), and terete (round in cross-section). They may be purplish at the nodes.
• Leaves are up to 12 inches long and less than 1/2 inch wide, with long, pointed tips.
• Foliage is blue-green.
• The small, oat-like seeds develop on one side of the stalk.

Ecological Role

• It is extremely drought tolerant and useful for erosion control and soil stabilization.
• It provides habitat for game birds and grazers.
• Its non-aggressive, semi-clumping nature makes it suitable for planting with wildflowers.

Quirky Facts

• Sideoats Grama is the official state grass of Texas, designated in 1971.
• The plant's name comes from the way the oat-like seeds lean to one side of the stem, despite emerging on two sides.
• Its tiny, bright purple and orange flower parts lend it a special grace and beauty.

Further Information

• BamertSeed.com
• SHARP BROTHERS SEED COMPANY
• Prairie Nursery
• Johnston Seed
• United Seeds Inc. (www.unitedseeds.com)
• NPS Photo by Jim Pisarowicz
• Friends of the High Line