Buffalograss
Bouteloua dactyloides · Warm-season, Perennial, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae
Grass Category
Lawn, Native Prairie, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common (wild-type) or 'Texoka'
Hardiness Zones
USDA 3 to 9; extreme heat and cold tolerance; goes dormant and turns tan after the first hard frost.
About This Grass
A short, fine-textured, grayish-green grass that forms a soft sod. It typically stays under 4-6 inches unmowed. It turns a distinct straw-color/tan during winter dormancy. It is dioecious, with male plants producing flag-like flower spikes above the foliage.
Blade Characteristics
Fine (1.5-3mm), tapered to a point, gray-green to blue-green color. Vernation is rolled; ligule is a fringe of hairs; auricles are absent. Surface often sparsely pubescent (hairy).
Root System
Deep (up to 5-7 feet), fibrous and stoloniferous. Low thatch tendency; slow to moderate establishment speed; excellent drought tolerance due to deep reaching roots.
Growing Information
Origin Region
North American Great Plains; Central US and Western Canada to Mexico
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading above ground to form a low, dense sod
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun (6+ hours), low water needs once established. Highly drought tolerant; prefers well-drained clay or loamy soils with pH 6.0-8.0. Cannot tolerate deep shade.
Mowing & Maintenance
2.5 to 4 inches; infrequent mowing (once per month or less). Low fertilization (1-2 lbs N per 1000 sq ft/year). Low maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional drought resistance, low nutrient requirements, high heat tolerance, moderate wear tolerance, but slow recovery compared to Bermuda. Good salt tolerance.
Ecological Information
Native to North America; high wildlife value for ground-nesting birds and as a larval host for some butterflies; excellent for soil stabilization in arid regions; non-invasive.