Blue grama

About Blue grama

Blue grama is a short, tough native grass of the western Great Plains and Southwest, with fine blue-green leaves and little flag-like seed heads that hang off one side of the stem like tiny mosquito larvae, hence its nickname mosquito grass (NC State, USDA NRCS). It is also a no-fuss native lawn in the dry West: it can live on very little rain, stays green in summer, and goes tan and dormant from fall to late spring (Wildflower Center, Colorado State). The taller 'Blonde Ambition' is grown as an ornamental grass for its chartreuse-to-blonde seed heads, and blue grama is a caterpillar host for several skippers.

NC State lists zones 3-10 (Clemson says 3-9). Native from southern Canada through the Great Plains and western mountains and foothills to Mexico; it dislikes acid soil, shade and frequent flooding (USDA NRCS).

When to plant

Timing is counted from your average last spring frost (and first fall frost). Sow & Tell works out the actual dates for your ZIP code.

Plant ornamental clumps in spring, crown level with the soil (Clemson). For a lawn, Colorado State says seed from March to mid-August (not later) at 3-5 lb per 1,000 sq ft, or lay plugs or sod June to mid-August; keep the surface moist for the first 3-4 weeks. USDA NRCS seeds it 1/4-1/2 inch deep in a firm, weed-free bed in April to mid-May in the central Plains.

Soil

Well-drained sandy loam, gravel or clay, including poor, rocky and alkaline soils; it does poorly in acid or soggy soil (NC State, USDA NRCS).

For a lawn, kill the old grass and weeds first, mow it very short, core-aerate heavily, then seed and rake it into the holes (Colorado State). Ornamental clumps need no special prep.

Feeding

• New seeded lawn, every 3-4 weeks during the first summer, stopping after late August: slow-release or natural organic lawn fertilizer. Colorado State suggests light feedings every 3-4 weeks after planting the first season; follow the label rate.
• Established lawn: once a year in July or August: slow-release or natural organic lawn fertilizer. One summer feeding a year is plenty for an established blue grama lawn (Colorado State); ornamental clumps need little or none (Clemson).

Don't overwater or overfeed once it's established; it needs little or no watering, and Colorado State suggests 1-2 inches every 4-5 weeks only for a greener lawn in a dry summer. Mow high, and don't seed after mid-August.

Varieties (5)

Sources document 1 ornamental cultivar and 4 USDA/state conservation releases used for range, erosion and native-lawn seed.

Pests to watch for

Grasshoppers, Green June beetle (fig-eater), White grubs

Diseases and problems

Leaf spot, Rust

In the kitchen

Safety: No toxicity is reported in the sources we checked; USDA NRCS calls it a palatable forage grass for livestock.

Pets: Not listed by the ASPCA.