How big does Blue grama grow?

About 45 cm × 45 cm after ten years (height × width). Its ultimate size is 20–60 cm × 30–60 cm.

What soil does Blue grama grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, sandy, clay, calcareous.

Hardy down to -40 °C (USDA zone 3, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

When does Blue grama flower?

Flowering: June–September, purple, bronze.

How much water does Blue grama need?

Water need: low. Drought tolerance: high.

Blue grama

Bouteloua gracilis

Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) is an ornamental grass that reaches 45 cm × 45 cm after ten years. Light: full sun. Hardy down to -40 °C. Drought tolerance: high.

Illustration of Blue grama — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

Blue grama is a low, fine-leaved prairie grass: above its green to blue-grey tuft it carries, in summer, curious comb- or eyelash-like flower spikes held sideways on thin stems, purplish at first and later tan. It thrives in full sun and lean, free-draining soil and takes heat, drought and limy ground in its stride, so it suits unwatered sunny beds, rock and gravel gardens, edging, or a patch of rarely mown lawn substitute. It will not tolerate standing water in winter, and being so short it should not be planted among tall, spreading neighbours.

Watch out for

It rots in heavy soil that stays wet in winter, so on such ground plant it only into a sandy, gritty top layer or a raised bed. As a warm-season grass it greens up late in spring and only really grows once summer warmth arrives. Being short, it is easily smothered by taller, fast-growing neighbours and by weeds. It self-seeds around the bed; if you do not want that, cut off the seed heads in autumn. The cultivar 'Blonde Ambition' comes from further south and is less hardy in cold sites than the species.

Key facts

Light: Full sun
Water need: Low
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 45 cm × 45 cm
Hardiness: down to -40 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D June–September, purple, bronze

Group	Ornamental grass
Light	Full sun
Size after 10 years	45 cm × 45 cm
Ultimate size	20–60 cm × 30–60 cm
Hardiness	down to -40 °C (USDA 3, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Sandy, Clay, Calcareous
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	June–September, purple, bronze
Water need	Low
Drought tolerance	High
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no data
Spreading	Medium
Distance from buildings	no data
Distance from paving	no data
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	35 cm
For dogs	no data
For cats	no data
For children	no data
Typical price	no data

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 19, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Ground cover plants Drought-tolerant plants Drought-tolerant plants for sandy soil Plants for containers Ornamental grasses Plants for a Mediterranean garden Plants with autumn colour Ornamental grasses with autumn colour

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