Buffalograss
Bouteloua dactyloides
Patrick Alexander https://www.inaturalist.org/people/aspidoscelis
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Genus:
- Bouteloua
- Species:
- Bouteloua dactyloides
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid
- Height:
- 1-2 ft
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- apr, may, jun, jul, aug, sep, oct, nov, dec
- Bloom Colors:
- Yellow
- Ground Cover:
- Yes
- Lawn Substitute:
- Yes
Native Range
United States: Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Canada: Manitoba, Saskatchewan
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Euxoa oberfoelli, Olivia's buckmoth (Hemileuca oliviae), Surattha indentella
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- dry, sandy or clayey, well-drained
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- thrives in open, sunny areas
Germination Information
Pre-treatment: Heating pretreatment, pretreatment with potassium nitrate, cold moist stratification for 60 days, and mechanical injury of the caryopis or covering layers
Establishment: Heating pretreatment resulted in the highest germination rate (100%). There is conflicting information about the optimal temperature for germination.
Source: npn.rngr.net