Buffalograss
Bouteloua dactyloides
- Native to:
- Canada, Mexico, United States
Patrick Alexander https://www.inaturalist.org/people/aspidoscelis (www.inaturalist.org)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Genus:
- Bouteloua
- Species:
- Bouteloua dactyloides
- USDA Symbol:
- BODA2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid
- Height:
- 15 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul,aug
- Bloom Colors:
- green, cream
- Ground Cover:
- Yes
- Lawn Substitute:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Euxoa oberfoelli, Olivia's buckmoth (Hemileuca oliviae), Surattha indentella
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals, grazing ungulates
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fall Color:
- tan, straw
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from rhizomes after fire. Fire removes thatch and stimulates new growth in spring, maintaining prairie ecosystem health.
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
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Germination improved with light exposure and warm temperatures. Fresh seed germinates more readily than stored seed.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
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