Grass · Sonoran native
Sideoats Grama
Bouteloua curtipendula · Poaceae
Also called: Side-oats grama, Banderita
Sideoats Grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) is a low-water grass native to the Sonoran Desert region well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It thrives in full sun.
Sideoats Grama at a glance
- Water use
- Low (established)
- Sun
- Full sun; tolerates light afternoon shade.
- Mature size
- 1.5-3 ft H x 1-2 ft W (flower stalks to 3 ft)
- Growth rate
- Moderate; warm-season bunchgrass that greens up in late spring and grows actively through summer monsoon.
- Bloom
- Oat-like spikelets are purplish to orange-red when flowering, drying to tan/straw; distinctive seed heads hang from one side of the stem., Summer into fall (June-October), peaking with monsoon rains.
- Cold hardiness
- Cold hardy to about -20 F; roughly USDA zones 4-9. Fully hardy in Tucson.
- Soil
- Adaptable; prefers well-drained loamy to rocky or limestone soils. Tolerates poor, alkaline, and clay soils.
- Native range
- Widespread across North America; native to Arizona and the Sonoran Desert grasslands and foothills, especially at mid elevations. State grass of Texas.
- Best used as
- Native/naturalistic grass plantings, Revegetation and erosion control, Meadow and prairie-style landscapes, Wildlife and pollinator gardens, Forage/rangeland
- Wildlife
- Excellent forage for livestock and wildlife; seeds eaten by birds; larval host and cover for grassland butterflies and small fauna.
- Toxicity
- Non-toxic; a palatable forage grass.
How to grow Sideoats Grama in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Water deeply but infrequently once established; supplemental irrigation every 2-4 weeks in summer keeps it green, though it survives on rainfall alone. Reduce or stop in winter dormancy.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Low needs; little to none required in landscape settings. A light application of balanced or slow-release fertilizer in late spring can boost vigor on poor soils, but avoid over-fertilizing.
Pruning & care
Cut back to a few inches above the crown in late winter (February) before spring green-up to remove dead foliage and stimulate fresh growth.
Notes
One of the most ornamental native grama grasses, valued for the unique one-sided 'banderita' seed spikes. Clumping (not aggressively spreading), drought- and cold-tolerant, and well suited to low-water Tucson landscapes.
Sources: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension; AMWUA Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert; Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum; USDA NRCS Plant Guide