- Full Sun (At Least 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)
- Mature Height 24 - 30 Inches
- Mature Spread 24 - 30 Inches
- Growing Zones 4 - 9
Often overlooked in favor of showier perennials, ornamental native grasses like the Sideoats Grama remain a stellar option in the landscape. A reliable, tough specimen, it features graceful, blue-green foliage that is topped by attractive, delicate flowers appearing on long stalks in late summer. In the fall, the basal foliage of this clump-forming grass often turns purplish. Sideoats Grama, known scientifically as Bouteloua curtipendula, gets its common name from the way the seeds lean to just one side of the stem.
This deer-resistant prairie grass is native to North America. It attracts birds as a food source and cover. Create a prairie-inspired, wildlife-friendly landscape by combining this grass with butterfly weed, echinacea and rudbeckia. Exceptionally drought tolerant, sideoats Grama is an excellent option as a groundcover for planting on slopes, even when the soil is poor and rocky. It is even useful in dried flower arrangement.
Sideoats Grama Care
Position this plant in full sun to part shade. It performs well in many types of soil as long as the site is well drained. No supplemental fertilizer is typically required for this grass to perform well. Working compost or rotted manure into the soil at planting or occasionally mulching with organic compost is all that is required to encourage vigor. Water the sideoats Grama deeply about twice per week during the growing season following planting; after establishment, only water this grass during an extended drought.
Do not prune the sideoats Grama during the growing season and consider leaving seed stalks on for winter interest and wildlife benefits. Cut this grass back to about 4 to 5 inches above the soil in early spring. After several years of growing, the center of a clump of grass may begin to die; when this happens, dig up the grass, divide it with a sharp spade, and replant a smaller section from the edge of the original clump.
Sideoats Grama Spacing
Sideoats Grama has a height and spread of 24 to 30 inches. It does have a tendency to spread when conditions are ideal and there is little competition from other plants. To form a solid planting of this grass, position multiple plants about 24 inches apart. To keep plants as individual specimens or when adding to mixed perennial beds, give each plant 3 feet of space.
Image Courtesy of North Creek Nurseries.
Sideoats Grama Information
| USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 - 9 |
| Plant Type: Ornamental Grasses |
| Light Exposure: Full Sun (At Least 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight) |
| Mature Height: 24 - 30 Inches |
| Mature Spread: 24 - 30 Inches |
| Spacing: 24 - 30 Inches |
| Habit: Clumping |
| Flower Color(s): Purple |
| Flower Description: |
| Bloom Period: Summer |
| Foliage Type: Herbaceous |
| Foliage Color(s): Green |
| Foliage Description: |
| Seasonal Interest: Summer Flowering |
| Watering: Average |
| Resists: Disease, Pests & Insects |
| Tolerates: Drought |
| Attracts: Birds, Butterflies |
| Container Role: |
| Uses: Borders, Containers |
| Features: Attracts Pollinators, Cut Flowers, Foliage Interest, Low Maintenance, Native to North America |
| Brand: |
| Common Name: Sideoats Grama |
| Other Name(s): Side Oats Grama |
| Scientific Name: Bouteloua curtipendula |
- SKU:
- 1231010770-pc
Container Sizes
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on; type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
4.5" Pot
Also Know As:
4.5" Container
Plant Age:
~ 6 months
Plant Size:
~ 3"-6"
Pot Size:
~ 4.5"H x 3.75"W
Volume:
1.42 quarts
Quart Pot
Also Know As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
2.5 Quart
Also Know As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
#1 Pot
Also Know As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
#2 Pot
Also Know As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
#3 Pot
Also Know As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
For more detailed information, please click here.
Plant Addict Guarantee (Included On All Plant Orders)
Plant Addicts Warranty - 1 Year (Extra Purchase Required)
Guide: How to Care for Your New Plant(s)
Planter Shipping
Standard Colors: 2-3 business days
Special Order Colors: 8 weeks - this is due to the planter being custom made with the color(s) of your choice
Please Note: On special orders there can not be any cancellations
Plant Shipping
Time of Order:
Summer Shipping
- If there is extreme heat we’ll delay shipping.
- We’ll have to review what areas the plants are traveling through along with your location
Once your plant is shipped you’ll receive an email with tracking information. Depending on the above criteria we’ll ship your plant(s) towards beginning of the following week from your order. We put together this helpful guide of what to do when you receive your plants in the mail.
It is important to know that all of our plants are clearly labeled for which growing zones the plant can survive in. The plants are thoroughly trialed and tested in every growing zone before we state the plant can grow in a zone. Again, our #1 priority is to ship the plants to you healthy and ready to thrive in your location. So we will do everything in our power to do so.
