Blonde Ambition Blue Grama (Bouteloua gracilis 'Blonde Ambition')
boo-tel-LOO-ah grah-SIL-iss 'Blonde Ambition'

Deciduous Perennial Clump-forming, upright in the Poaceae Family
 
Buy Blonde Ambition Blue Grama
Size Notes Price Availability
#1 gallon Field $14.22 Likely available
11/1 - 11/8
1/24 - 4/4

Airy chartreuse flowers float horizontally amidst blue-green foliage mid-summer into fall. Blonde seed heads extend the season providing unique winter appeal. Tolerates black walnut.

'Blonde Ambition' is a patented selection of blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis 'Blonde Ambition', USPP22,048) discovered by plantsman David Salman in his Santa Fe, New Mexico yard in 2007 and introduced in 2011. It shares the species' fine, blue-green foliage and comb-like flower spikes, but its spikelets emerge chartreuse and mature to a warm blonde color, held horizontally above the foliage for a striking, long-lasting display from early summer into fall and often into winter. It forms a tidy, upright clump about 2-3 feet tall and wide and, like the species, is highly drought tolerant and easy to grow in full sun.

Pros

  • Award-winning, long-lasting blonde flower display
  • Very drought tolerant once established
  • Deer resistant
  • Tidy, upright clumping habit
  • Low maintenance

Cons

  • Dislikes poorly drained or constantly wet soil
  • May self-seed in ideal conditions
Highlights

A 2011 Plant Select Plant of the Year, 'Blonde Ambition' is prized for its chartreuse-to-blonde, comb-like flower spikes held horizontally above fine blue-green foliage, providing months of ornamental interest from summer into winter. Patented (USPP22,048) and bred by New Mexico plantsman David Salman, it combines striking color with the toughness and drought tolerance of the native species.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 24 - 36 inches tall. 24 - 36 inches wide.
Growth Rate Medium
Sun Exposure Full Sun - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Dry - Medium:

Highly drought tolerant once established. Avoid poorly drained or consistently wet sites.
Zones 4a - 9b (Usually hardy to -30° F)
Tags Blue Foliage, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Dry, Full Sun, Good for Borders, Good for Dried Flowers, Good for Mass Planting, Good for Rock Garden, Grasses, Medium, Most Popular, Nativar, Native to North America, Naturalizing, Perennial, Popular For Fall, Prairie Garden, Tolerant of Clay Soil, Tolerant of Poor Soil, Tolerant of Sandy Soil
Bloom Period June to September
Flower Color Chartreuse, maturing to blonde
Foliage Color Blue-green
 

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More Info from Experts

Commonly Planted with...

Pairs well with other sun-loving, drought-tolerant prairie natives. Browse more Illinois native, drought-tolerant companions for a low-maintenance planting.
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/13 - 10/04
2024 : 05/01 - 10/05
2023 : 05/04 - 07/22

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

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