Bouteloua G. ‘Bad River’ 1Gal

Latin Name: Bouteloua gracilis 'Bad River'

Common Name: Bad River Blue Grama Grass

Zones: 3–10

Height & Spread: 10–20 inches tall (12–16 inches at seed head stage), spreading 12–24 inches wide

Descriptive Features: A native ecotype selection of blue grama grass, originally collected from the floodplain of the Bad River in Haakon County, South Dakota, and released by the North Dakota Plant Materials Center for use across the Northern Great Plains. Forms dense, bunching tufts of narrow, mostly basal, curling gray-green foliage. From summer into fall, distinctive horizontal, comb-like flower spikes emerge purplish-gray and curve gracefully to one side, resembling a human eyebrow or tiny eyelash — one of the most recognizable seed heads among ornamental grasses. Especially well adapted to cooler climates and shows notably strong salinity and drought tolerance, establishing readily and performing more consistently than wild-harvested seed sources. Extremely heat-, cold-, and drought-tolerant once established, and tolerant of poor, rocky, clay, or alkaline soils. Can be mowed and used as a low-maintenance turf alternative, or left unmowed for its ornamental seed heads. Deer-resistant and a valuable wildlife and pollinator plant, providing seed for birds and habitat for native insects. An excellent choice for dry meadows, prairie restoration, xeriscaping, rock gardens, erosion control, or roadside plantings in full sun.