Buffalograss (specifically showing characteristics of Southern Sandbur/Buffelgrass mix)
Cenchrus ciliaris (Pennisetum ciliare) · Warm-season perennial, C4 photosynthesis pathway
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Panicoideae, Tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Pasture/Forage, Invasive/Weed Grass, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common/Naturalized (non-turf specific cultivar)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8-11; poor cold tolerance; enters dormant straw-brown state after first hard frost; survives high heat/drought.
About This Grass
A deep-rooted, drought-tolerant Bunch-type grass with a gray-green color. It features flexible stems and distinctive bristly, bur-like seed heads (visible in image) that range from straw-colored to purple-tinged. It grows 10-40 inches tall if unmowed.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are 3-10mm wide (coarse), flat, with pointed tips and a distinctive light blue-green to gray-green hue. Vernation is rolled; ligule is a ring of short hairs; auricles are absent. The surface often has sparse long hairs near the base.
Root System
Deep, vigorous fibrous root system reaching up to 6-8 feet in depth; exceptionally drought resistant; low thatch tendency; slow to moderate establishment speed from seed.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa, the Middle East, and Asia; widely naturalized in the Southern US, Mexico, and Australia
Growth Habit
Bunch-type to weakly stoloniferous; can form dense clumps that spread via short underground rhizomes
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun (minimum 6-8 hours); very low water needs once established; extremely high drought tolerance; thrives in arid to semi-arid climates with sandy to loamy alkaline soils.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3-4 inches; low frequency; 1-2 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually; low maintenance; rarely needs dethatching but benefits from annual aeration.
Special Characteristics
Excellent drought recovery; high salt tolerance; moderate traffic tolerance; tends to become invasive in native desert ecosystems; high fire risk due to thick dry fuel load.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America; considered a noxious weed in some desert regions for outcompeting native flora; provides forage for livestock but can be problematic for wildlife due to bur-like seeds and habitat displacement.