Sunset Prairie Side Oat Grama (Bouteloua curtipendula 'Sunset Prairie')
boo-tel-LOO-ah curtipendula 'Sunset Prairie'

Deciduous Perennial Upright, Clump-Forming in the Poaceae Family
 
Buy Sunset Prairie Side Oat Grama
Size Notes Price Availability
Tray of 6 #1 gallons Field

Grower approved but probably not garden center ready. (9/13)

$74.40 Likely available
11/1 - 11/8
1/24 - 4/4

A sideoats grama selection with striking red and purple fall color on wiry, upright stems.

'Sunset Prairie' is a selection of the North American native grass sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), introduced by Intrinsic Perennial Gardens in 2024 for its especially colorful late-season display. Strong blue-green basal foliage sends up upright, wiry flowering stems to about 2-3 feet; as summer turns to fall and nights cool, the stems and the small, oat-like spikelets that dangle along them take on a blend of red and purple, echoing a prairie sunset. Like the species, it is a tough, drought-tolerant clumping grass well suited to full sun and lean, well-drained soil.

Pros

  • Vivid red-purple late-season color
  • Drought tolerant once established
  • Deer resistant
  • Low maintenance

Cons

  • Best color develops only with cool fall nights
  • Clumps may flop in rich, moist soil
Highlights

A sideoats grama selection prized for its strong red-and-purple late-season color, developing on upright, wiry stems above blue-green basal foliage as nights cool in fall. Combines ornamental fall color with the drought tolerance and low-maintenance habit of the native species.

 

Plant Data

Mature Size 24 - 36 inches tall.
Growth Rate Medium
Sun Exposure Full Sun - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Dry - Medium
Zones 4a - 9b (Usually hardy to -30° F)
Tags Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Dry, Fall Color, Fall interest, Full Sun, Good for Rock Garden, Grasses, 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 Late summer to fall
Flower Color Red to purple stems, fall
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 08/10 - 08/23

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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!