Plant library · Ornamental Grasses
Bouteloua gracilis
Blue grama grass is a compact perennial ornamental grass for dry, sunny planting areas. Its low, clumping form reaches about 1 1/2 feet tall and 1 foot wide, bringing fine texture without blocking views across a border. The distinctive eyelash-like seed heads arrive from summer into early fall, so it works well where a modest vertical accent is wanted among lower, open-planted perennials.
Use Blue Grama Grass in the front half of a sunny border, along the open side of a path, or in small repeated drifts through a xeric bed. Keep it out of shade cast by buildings, fences, and taller neighboring plants; it needs full sun to hold its compact character. Its clumping habit suits rock gardens, naturalized areas, and low-water meadow-style plantings, where the seed heads can be seen against gravel, mulch, or broader-leaved plants.[1][2]
Plant on 1-foot centers for a continuous, close-knit pattern. Each clump is about 1 foot wide at maturity, so this layout allows plants to meet lightly without leaving broad gaps. For a looser, individually legible rhythm, add extra room between groups rather than widening every plant interval. Set the first row far enough back from paths that the summer stems and seed heads do not lean into circulation space.
Reserve this grass for full-sun ground with very low water needs. Well-drained soil is important, making raised, gravelly, sandy, or otherwise freely draining parts of the garden useful positions. Avoid low spots that stay wet, especially through winter, and do not place it beside plantings that require regular irrigation. Its drought-tolerant character makes it a practical transition between hardscape and dry planting beds.[1][3]
Summer into early fall is the main display period, when the one-sided seed heads rise above the foliage. Leave enough visual breathing room around the clumps so those horizontal, eyelash-like forms read clearly rather than disappearing into dense neighboring growth. The foliage and seed heads can carry warm brown, orange, and red tones in fall; cut back old material in late winter or early spring before fresh growth begins.[1][2]
This is a small grass, not a screen or a substantial hedge. Use repeated clumps when a planting needs more visual weight, and reserve taller grasses or shrubs for boundary definition. It can self-seed, so allow room to edit stray seedlings where a crisp edge or formal planting pattern matters. In very wet ground, choose another plant or change the drainage before planting.[2][3]
Editorial content updated 2026-07-20.