Grass of the Month

Blue Gramma

Blue Gramma is a long lived, warm season, C4 perennial grass native to North America. It is most commonly found from Alberta east to Manitoba and south across the Rocky Mountains, Great Plains, and Midwest states to Mexico. Blue Gramma accounts for most of the net primary productivity in the shortgrass prairie of the central and southern Great Plains.

Significance

     -         Blue Gramma is the state grass of Colorado and New Mexico.

-         Turns purple with first frost and bleaches to white during winter.

-         Fine textured grass spreads by underground rhizomes

-         Can be used as turf grass or in rock gardens

 Characteristics

-         Plant height at maturity ranges from 15-30 cm.

-         Roots generally extend 30-46 cm from the edge of the plant and 0.9 to 1.8 m deep.

-         Blue Gramma is green to grayish in appearance.

-         Blooms appear in September resembling tiny combs

-         This plant likes dry conditions.