Bouteloua dactyloides aka Buffalo Grass

Bouteloua dactyloides, or buffalo grass, is a warm-season perennial grass. It belongs to the grass family, Poaceae. Its former name is Buchloe dactyloides. Its native range runs from central Canada south to Mexico. It grows across much of the Great Plains. There, it is a major grass of the shortgrass prairie. Its common name recalls the bison that grazed these grasslands.

This small grass forms low clumps and spreads through stolons. These creeping stems help it cover ground at a fast rate. Plants reach about 0.33–0.67 feet [0.10–0.20 metres] tall. One source gives an upper height of 0.75 feet [0.23 metres]. Clumps spread about 0.5–1 foot [0.15–0.30 metres] wide. The fine, curled leaves range from blue-green to gray-green. They turn straw-colored when growth stops from mid-fall to mid-spring. The grass greens up again as spring growth starts.

Small green flowers appear from June through August. Male and female flowers grow on separate plants. Female flowers form clusters on short stems near the leaves. Male flowers form comb-like spikes on longer, thin stems. The blooms add little show compared with the leaves. Their low profile suits the plant's use as ground cover.

Give buffalo grass full sun and soil that drains well. It does not grow well in shade. It tolerates heat, drought, poor soil, and many soil types. It also adapts to alkaline soil. Dry to moderately moist ground suits it, but frequent watering does not. Too much moisture and high rainfall can reduce its performance. Sources place it in USDA hardiness zones 4–8. Start new plantings with seed, plugs, or sod. Sow seed from April to June. Lawns need little mowing; cut them to 0.17–0.25 feet [0.05–0.08 metres]. Unmown turf can stand 0.33–0.5 feet [0.10–0.15 metres] tall.

Buffalo grass serves as low-care turf in lawns and parks. It also suits golf courses, roadsides, and commercial sites. On dry, sunny slopes, it helps limit soil loss. It does not withstand heavy foot traffic. Stolons can creep into nearby beds, while weeds enter open turf. Other warm-season lawn grasses may crowd it out in mixtures. Serious pest problems are uncommon, though chinch bugs can cause trouble. Leaf spot, brown patch, and summer patch can also occur. Few pesticides carry labels for use on this grass.