Sideoats Grass (Bouteloua curtipendula)
boo-tel-LOO-ah curtipendula

A fine-textured native prairie grass prized for its distinctive one-sided, oat-like flower spikes and excellent drought tolerance.

Sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) is a warm-season perennial bunchgrass native across central and western North America, including much of Illinois. It is best known for its distinctive, one-sided flower spikes: small oat-like spikelets dangle along a zig-zag rachis, all hanging to one side of the stem, with bright red anthers visible during flowering. The fine-textured, blue-green foliage forms a modest clump 2-3 feet tall and about as wide, spreading slowly over time from short rhizomes. Highly drought tolerant thanks to a deep root system, sideoats grama thrives in poor, dry, rocky or sandy soils and is equally at home in a native prairie planting, a mixed border, or a low-maintenance slope. Its seed heads persist into fall and complement the plant's golden-brown autumn foliage, while its foliage and seed provide food and shelter for birds and butterflies.

Pros

• Highly drought tolerant once established
• Deer resistant
• Supports skipper butterflies and seed-eating birds
• Distinctive, ornamental one-sided seed heads
• Low maintenance

Cons

• Slow to establish from seed
• Can self-seed and slowly spread by rhizomes in ideal conditions
• Clumps may flop in rich, moist, or shady soil

Sideoats grama is a warm-season bunchgrass native to Illinois prairies, glades, and dry, rocky or sandy open ground, most common in the northern part of the state. It plays an important ecological role as a larval host plant for skipper butterflies and as a seed source for songbirds and wild turkey. Its deep, fibrous root system (extending several feet into the soil) stabilizes soil on slopes and disturbed ground and gives it exceptional drought tolerance, making it one of the defining grasses of the historic tallgrass and mixed-grass prairie.

Sideoats grama is known for its distinctive, one-sided flower spikes, where 25-50 small oat-like spikelets dangle from a zig-zag rachis along one side of the stem, with bright red anthers visible at bloom. Its fine, blue-green foliage turns golden-brown with orange and red highlights in fall. A true Illinois prairie native, it is the state grass of Texas and serves as a larval host plant for several skipper butterfly species.

Plant Data

Highly drought tolerant once established, thanks to a deep, extensive root system. Does not tolerate poorly drained or consistently wet, soggy soil.

More Info from Experts

Commonly Planted with...

Pairs naturally with other sun-loving, drought-tolerant prairie natives. Browse more Illinois native, drought-tolerant companions for a low-maintenance prairie planting.