Plant Type

Ground cover, Perennial, Grass

 

Height Range

Under 1'

 

Flower Color

Purple

 

Flower Season

Summer

 

Leaf Color

Green, Blue Green, Grey Green

 

Bark Color

n/a

 

Fruit Color

n/a

 

Fruit Season

n/a

Sun

Full

 

Water

Low

 

Growth Rate

Moderate, Slow

 

Soil Type

Clay, Loam, Rocky

 

Soil Condition

Average, Poor, Well-drained, Dry

 

Soil pH

Neutral, Basic

 

Adverse Factors

n/a

Design Styles

Japanese, Meadow, Mediterranean, Ranch, Seascape, Spanish

 

Accenting Features

n/a

 

Seasonal Interest

Spring, Summer

 

Location Uses

Lawn, Parking Strip, Walkways

 

Special Uses

Erosion Control, Mass Planting, Lawn Alternative, Naturalizing, Small Spaces

 

Attracts Wildlife

Birds

One of the very few drought tolerant North american grasses suitable for lawns. Buffalograss is a soft, grey-green to blue-green, warm season grass, growing 3 to 12 inches tall if left unmowed. Leaf blades are slender and curly, and the seed heads are compact. It spreads by rhizomes. It is a long-lived, warm season, sod-forming grass. Many varieties are available; it is even available in sod. Plant it with blueoats grama for a lovely, low-water lawn.

Buffalograss needs full sun and well-draining soil. It requires only 2 inches of water per month to stay green. It is a warm-season grass, which means it will be dormant (and tawny colored) from mid fall until the warmer part of spring. Plant seed, plugs, or sod (see Guides). Requires only 3 to 4 mowings all season, or don't mow at all, and have a billowy, prairie-like lawn.