Sideoats Grama - Bouteloua curtipendula
 
Sideoats Grama, Bouteloua curtipendula, is a deep-rooted perennial native warm-season grass that is admired for its distinctive array of oat-like seed spikes which hang from only one side of its flowering stem. Smaller than our other native grasses at 1.5 – 2.5′ high, it tolerates a wide range of soil conditions from well-drained sandy soils to heavy clays, and grows well in average, dry to medium soils in full sun. Narrow, bluish-gray leaf blades (1/4″ wide) form a dense clump distinctive of native bunch grasses. Foliage turns golden brown in fall, often with hues of orange and red, while inflorescences of purplish-tinged flowers appear on the arching stems above the foliage in early to mid summer. This grass is exceptional in restorations, as its highly drought tolerant and thrives in denuded landscapes, often selected as a primary component of restoration sites.