Side-oats Grama
Warm-season perennial grass reaching 60-90 cm tall. Features blue-green foliage and distinctive purplish-red spikelets arranged along one side of the stem. Prefers well-drained soils and full sun. Extremely drought-tolerant once established. Provides food and cover for wildlife. Excellent for prairies, meadows, and erosion control on slopes.
Plant Details
Bloom Colour: Purplish-Red
Bloom Time: Mid to Late-Summer
Sun Requirements: Sun
Moisture: Dry to Moist-Drained
Phenology: Growth begins late May. Flowering stems develop July. Blooms July-August. Seeds mature September. Foliage turns copper-orange in fall, providing winter interest. Clumps remain standing through winter.
Wildlife Value: Seeds valuable for ground-feeding birds; provides nesting material and cover for grassland birds; larval host for skippers; forage for grazing mammals
Habit Over Time: Forms neat, upright clumps that gradually expand from the center. Individual plants maintain clear boundaries and do not spread aggressively. The arching flower stems create elegant movement while allowing good visibility through the planting. Self-seeds modestly but not invasively.
Height: Medium (2-3 feet)