Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Blue Grama Grass
Blue Grama is a fine-textured native bunchgrass that grows wild in southern Arizona and across the dry West. It stays about 2 feet tall and wide, and in summer it sends up seed heads that curl into little eyebrow shapes. Its deep, fibrous roots hold soil on slopes, and it gets by on little water once rooted. It turns tan in winter and greens up again with warm weather.
Best for: slopes and banks that need erosion control, native meadow plantings, accents in low-water beds, and yards that want a native grass for birds and butterflies.
Its fibrous roots spread 1 to 1.5 feet wide and can go 3 to 6 feet deep, which holds soil on slopes. It is widely used for erosion control and roadside plantings.
Set plants 18 to 24 inches apart for a meadow of fine, blue-green grass. The seed heads rise in summer and curl into eyebrow shapes as they dry.
Birds and small mammals eat the seeds, and the leaves host the caterpillars of many butterflies and moths. Leave the seed heads standing into fall for the birds.
Rabbits and rodents eat the leaves, so protect new plants. It goes dormant and tan in winter, so it is not a year-round green grass.
- Meadow or mass planting18 in apart
- Plant to plant18-24 in apart
Water new plants every 3 to 4 days at first, then slowly stretch it to every 10 to 14 days by about two months. Water deeply through the first summer so the roots grow down.
Once rooted, water deeply every week or two in summer and about once a month in winter. It can live on rain plus an occasional summer soak, but it stays greener and fuller with more water.
Cut it back hard once in late winter or early spring, down to 2 to 3 inches, before new growth starts. Old dead stems shade out the new growth if you skip it for years.
Rabbits and rodents eat the leaves. Protect new plants from rabbits until they are growing strongly.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
Is blue grama native to Arizona?
Yes. It is a common native grass in southern Arizona and across the dry grasslands of the United States. Plant it for a native look that fits the desert.
How big does blue grama grass get?
It grows about 2 feet tall and wide, including the seed heads. Plan for a clump about that size.
How far apart should I plant blue grama?
Plant it 18 to 24 inches apart, center to center. Use about 18 inches for a fuller meadow. The Spacing tab shows both.
How often should I water blue grama?
Water new plants every few days, stretching to every 10 to 14 days by about two months. Once rooted, water deeply every week or two in summer and about once a month in winter.
Does blue grama stay green in winter?
No. It goes dormant and turns tan in winter, and drought can also send it dormant. It greens up again when the weather warms.
When should I cut back blue grama?
Cut it back hard once in late winter or early spring, to 2 to 3 inches, before new growth starts. Skip shearing through the year, which removes the seed heads.
Is blue grama good for erosion control?
Yes. Its fibrous roots spread wide and grow 3 to 6 feet deep, which holds soil on slopes. Plant it on banks and bare slopes.
What do blue grama seed heads look like?
They are one-sided flower spikes that start green to purple in summer, then dry to tan and curl into eyebrow shapes. Leave them standing for the look and for the birds.
Do rabbits eat blue grama?
Yes, rabbits and rodents eat the leaves. Protect new plants from rabbits until they are growing strongly.
How cold hardy is blue grama?
It is very cold hardy and survives temperatures down to about -30°F. In winter it simply goes dormant and turns tan.
What soil does blue grama need?
It grows in almost any desert soil, sandy, rocky, loam or clay, as long as it drains. Slightly alkaline soil suits it.
Can blue grama bother allergies?
Yes. Its pollen can bother people with allergies.
Blue Grama Grass for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Blue Grama is a native Arizona bunchgrass known for its curled, eyebrow-like seed heads. It is fast, tough and low water, and its roots hold soil on slopes. Below you will find its size, spacing, water, winter look, cutback and how it handles rabbits.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
Is blue grama grass native to Arizona?
Yes. Blue Grama is a common native bunchgrass in southern Arizona and throughout the dry grasslands of the West. It fits native and low-water landscapes.
How far apart to plant blue grama grass
Plant it 18 to 24 inches apart, center to center. For a fuller meadow, use about 18 inches.
How to water blue grama in Phoenix
Water new plants every few days, stretching the gap over about two months. Once rooted, water deeply every week or two in summer and about monthly in winter.
Blue grama for erosion control on slopes
Its fibrous roots spread 1 to 1.5 feet wide and 3 to 6 feet deep, which holds soil in place. It is widely planted on slopes, roadsides and restoration sites.
When to cut back blue grama
Cut it back once in late winter or early spring, down to 2 to 3 inches, before new growth. Old dead stems left for years shade out the new growth.
Blue grama in winter
Blue Grama is a warm-season grass that goes dormant and tan in winter. It greens up again when spring and summer warmth return.
Does blue grama attract wildlife?
Yes. Birds and small mammals eat the seeds, and the leaves host many butterfly and moth caterpillars. Rabbits eat the leaves too, so protect young plants.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.