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Bouteloua curtipendula (side oats grama)
Looking for a grass with a little personality? Sideoats Grama is a beloved native that’s a superstar in meadows for its unique, comb-like oat seeds that hang neatly off just one side of the stem.
It’s a tough-as-nails, drought-tolerant beauty that stays in a tidy clump, making it perfect for smaller garden beds or rock gardens. In late summer, keep an eye out for its bright red and orange anthers—they’re tiny, but they pack a visual punch! Side oats grama is also a fabulous species as a lawn replacement, having no problem with being mowed.
It’s the ultimate low-maintenance grass that supports everything from skipper butterflies to foraging birds.
Photo by Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova
Bouteloua curtipendula (side oats grama)
type: grass sun needs: full to part sun water needs: dry to average soil
height: 2' plant spacing: 1/sq ft MODERATELY salt tolerant. Some salt exposure should not be fatal to the plant but some leaf burning may still occur. Highly deer resistant (please note that does not mean deer proof).
Can grow in a container Can be used as a lawn alternative, can handle being mowed. Supports at-risk wildlife: Primary larval host for the Ottoe Skipper (Hesperia ottoe), which is considered globally vulnerable and a high-priority species for conservation.
