Bouteloua curtipendula (Sideoats grama) Unity Grown

Bouteloua curtipendula, commonly known as sideoats grama, is a medium-height, perennial grass native to almost all of the contiguous US, as well as much of Canada. Sideoats grama draws its common name from its unique oat-like seeds that hang along only one side of the grass's flower spikes. These unique seed heads are are produced in late summer and fall, following airy, nondescript purple and green flowers. During the fall, foliage turns to shades of tan and gold with purple or red highlights near the base, and hanging seeds persist well into winter, providing migrating birds with a food source as well as nesting material. This grass may not attract pollinators in the traditional sense, but sideoats grama is also a great plant for drawing butterflies to the backyard, since it is a host plant for a number of caterpillars species, including the Leonard's Skipper butterfly (Hesperia leonardus) and the Dotted Skipper (Hesperia attalus), which is considered threatened throughout its Atlantic coast range.

Bouteloua curtipendula is a very hardy grass, and will grow in a wide variety of soil conditions, provided it's given full sun. Growing to 2-3' tall with a narrow spread, sideoats grama does not compete well with larger grasses like switchgrass, but grows excellently alongside shorter native ornamentals like little bluestem and purple lovegrass, and will tolerate cold, heat, and drought once established. With the added benefits of deer resistance and its ecological value for birds and butterflies, Bouteloua curtipendula is an excellent ornamental grass for a variety of locations, and it's multi-season appeal provides aesthetic appeal from spring all the way through winter.

Our Bouteloua curtipendula plugs are grown from seed right here at Unity Church Hill Nursery.