This straight species native is noted for its distinctive arrangement of oat-like seedheads that hang from only one side of the flowering stem; purplish inflorescences mature to tan as the seeds mature; blue-green foliage turns reddish-purple in fall; use as a border accent
Ships as a Landscape-Ready Plug 6 Plant Minimum
Bouteloua curtipendula info from Missouri Botanical Garden
Common Name: sideoats grass
Type: Ornamental grass
Family: Poaceae
Native Range: North and South America
Zone: 4 to 9
Height: 1.50 to 2.50 feet
Spread: 1.50 to 2.00 feet
Bloom Time: July to August
Bloom Description: Purplish
Sun: Full sun
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Ground Cover
Flower: Showy, Good Cut, Good Dried
Leaf: Good Fall
Attracts: Birds
Tolerate: Drought, Erosion, Dry Soil, Shallow-Rocky Soil, Black Walnut, Air Pollution
Sideoats Grass (Bouteloua curtipendula)
Ornamental Features
Sideoats Grama features airy spikes of purple flowers rising above the foliage in mid summer. Its attractive grassy leaves are bluish-green in color. As an added bonus, the foliage turns a gorgeous plum purple in the fall.
Planting and Growing
Sideoats Grama will grow to be about 18 inches tall at maturity extending to 3 feet tall with the flowers, with a spread of 24 inches. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 5 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!