Bad River Blue Grama Grass (Bouteloua gracilis 'Bad River')
boo-tel-LOO-ah grah-SIL-iss 'Bad River'

Deciduous Perennial Sod-forming, spreads via rhizomes in the Poaceae Family
A vigorous, sod-forming selection of blue grama bred for erosion control and groundcover use.

'Bad River' is a regionally selected ecotype of blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), developed by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service from native plants collected along the Bad River in central South Dakota and released in 1996 for use across the Northern Great Plains. Compared to typical wild blue grama, it grows noticeably taller and leafier, establishes more readily, and spreads by rhizomes into a dense sod rather than staying in discrete bunches, making it well suited to erosion control, reclamation, and low-maintenance groundcover plantings. Like the species, its small flower spikes are held in short, comb-like rows and it is highly drought tolerant once established.

Pros

  • Taller and leafier than typical wild blue grama
  • Denser, sod-forming groundcover habit
  • Very drought tolerant once established
  • Deer resistant
  • Low maintenance

Cons

  • Dislikes poorly drained or constantly wet soil
  • Spreads by rhizomes into a dense sod, which may be more vigorous than wanted in a tight garden bed
Highlights

A USDA-developed ecotype selection of blue grama, bred for vigor rather than ornamental novelty: taller, leafier, and more sod-forming than typical wild blue grama, making it a strong performer for erosion control and groundcover use while keeping the species' drought tolerance and distinctive comb-like flower spikes.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 10 - 30 inches tall. 18 - 24 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 3a - 10b (Usually hardy to -40° F)
Tags Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Dry, Erosion Control, Full Sun, Good for Mass Planting, Grasses, Groundcover, Medium, 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 July
Flower Color Purple-tinged, comb-like spikes
Foliage Color Blue-green

Commonly Planted with...

Pairs well with other sun-loving, drought-tolerant prairie natives, especially in erosion-control or groundcover plantings. 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 - 09/20
2024 : 05/01 - 09/21
2023 : 05/04 - 09/30

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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.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!