- 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 Known 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 Known 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 Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 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 Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
#2 Pot
Also Known 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 Known 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 Addicts Guarantee (Included On All Plant Orders)
Plant Addicts always guarantees your plant(s) will arrive happy & healthy. However, plant(s) are being shipped through the mail & sometimes accidents happen. If the plant is dead, has dried out roots or the incorrect item was shipped, just notify Plant Addicts within 3 days upon delivery. We may ask for pictures but will try to make it as easy as possible for you. Please note, plant(s) with damaged branches or wilted leaves will not qualify for this guarantee. Plants are very resilient and will rebound quickly when cared for correctly.
For more information on how to care for your new plants, please click on our guide below.
Guide: How to Care for Your New Plant(s)
Plant Addicts Warranty - 1 Year (Extra Purchase Required)
We encourage all plant lovers to purchase the Plant Addicts Warranty, whether you're a new gardener or an expert. There are many variables outside of anyone's control that can cause a plant to die. Hungry animals, drought, poor soil conditions, over watering, diseases & pests are all good examples of what can cause plants to die. The Plant Addicts Warranty is a 1 year warranty protecting you from all of the unknowns and will replace your plant if something were to happen to it.
The warranty is purchased on a per plant basis and must be purchased at the same time as the plant(s). We will cover 100% of the price of the plant, but the warranty does not cover shipping costs. SImply let us know if your plant has died within 1 year of receiving it and we will get you a new one shipped out as soon as possible (depending on the time of the year and availability). We may ask for photos for documentation purposes, but we try to make the process as easy as possible.
For more information, please click on our page below.
Plant Shipping
Below are some factors we consider when determining when to ship the plants depending on the timing of the order.
Winter to Early Spring
We ship only when it's warm enough to plant in your growing zone.
Sometimes plants aren't completely ready to sell and ship in early spring. We will wait until the plants are ready before shipping so you don't get a subpar product.
For Southern plants we will be able to ship much earlier than plants coming from our northern nursery.
Summer
If there is extreme heat we may delay shipping for a week or several weeks.
We review what areas the plants are traveling through as well as your location.
Fall into Winter
We’ll ship plants out all the way up to the end of the fall planting season!
Winter
Get your order in early to reserve your plants for Spring planting!
Once your plant is shipped you’ll receive an automated email with tracking information.
Click here for more detailed shipping information.
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