Scientific Name:
BOUTELOUA GRACILIS
Common Name:
BLUE GRAMA
Erosion Index:
EXCELLENT
Erosion Index Value:
7.62
Wildlife Index:
GOOD
Wildlife Index Value:
6.15
Ecological Distribution:
CROSS TIMBERS AND PRAIRIES, EDWARDS PLATEAU, ROLLING PLAINS, HIGH PLAINS, TRANS-PECOS
Topographic Tolerance:
UPLAND
Elevation Tolerance:
TOLERANT OVER WIDE ELEVATION RANGE
Slope Tolerance:
TOLERANT OVER WIDE SLOPE RANGE
Aspect Tolerance:
TOLERANT ACROSS RANGE
Light Tolerance:
TOLERANT TO FULL SUN
Wetland Regional Indicator:
OBLIGATE UPLAND
Physical Form:
GRASS
Habit:
Life Cycle:
PERENNIAL
Seed Age:
1 TO 4 YEARS OLD
Seed Interval:
1 YEAR OR LESS
Growth:
RAPID GROWTH, LONG-LIVED, TUFTED BUNCHGRASS, SOD-FORMING, DENSE FOLIAGE, CLOSE GROUND COVER, SHALLOW ROOTED
Hardiness:
DROUGHT TOLERANT, GRAZING TOLERANT, INSECT TOLERANT, COLD TOLERANT
Vegetative Growth Period:
APR, MAY, JUN, JUL, AUG, SEP
Flowering Period:
JUN, JUL, AUG, SEP, OCT
Fruiting Period:
JUN, JUL, AUG, SEP, OCT
Soil Moisture:
WELL-DRAINED ONLY
Soil Texture:
TOLERANT TO SILTY SOILS, TOLERANT TO LOAMY SOILS, TOLERANT TO SANDY SOILS
Soil Fertility:
TOLERANT OVER WIDE FERTILITY RANGE
Parent Material:
TOLERANT OVER WIDE RANGE
Soil pH:
SLIGHTLY ACIDIC, NEUTRAL, SLIGHTLY ALKALINE
Optimum pH:
NEUTRAL
Soil Depth:
WIDE RANGE OF SOIL DEPTHS
Salinity:
TOLERANT ACROSS A RANGE OF SALINITY CONDITIONS
Short-term Biomass:
LOW
Short-term Pest:
NONE KNOWN
Long-term Biomass:
MEDIUM
Long-term Pest:
NONE KNOWN
Dominance Characteristics:
DOMINANT
Honeybee Relations:
POLLINATED WITHOUT BEES, NOT HONEY PRODUCING
Parasite Host Potential:
NONE KNOWN
Food for Wildlife/Livestock:
SMALL MAMMALS, LARGE MAMMALS, UPLAND GAME BIRDS, NONGAME BIRDS, CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS, HORSES
Small Mammal Food:
GOOD
Large Mammal Food:
GOOD
Upland Game Birds Food:
GOOD
Waterfowl Food:
FAIR
Nongame Birds Food:
GOOD
Small Mammal Cover:
GOOD
Large Mammal Cover:
FAIR
Upland Game Birds Cover:
GOOD
Waterfowl Cover:
FAIR
Nongame Birds Cover:
GOOD
Toxicity Potential:
NONE KNOWN
Toxicity Season:
Effectiveness Period:
LONG-TERM ONLY
Raindrop Impact:
MEDIUM
Erosion Hardiness:
HIGH
Ease of Propagation:
MEDIUM
Soil Binding:
MEDIUM
Soil Enrichment Potential:
LOW
Nitrogen Fixation Potential:
LOW
Growth Inhibitor Production:
HIGH
Source Availability:
COMMON LOCAL RETAIL NURSERY OR SEED OUTLET, SPECIALIZED COMMERCIAL OR WHOLESALE OUTLET, HARVEST FROM LOCAL WILD STOCK
Seed Germination Ratio:
HIGH
Reproduction:
SEEDS, TILLERS
Seed Dispersal Success Potential:
GRAVITY, WIND
Seed Establishment Success Potential:
MEDIUM
Cuttings Establishment Success Potential:
LOW
Transplanting Establishment Success Potential:
MEDIUM
Establishment Time Interval:
2 TO 3 YEARS
Recommended Establishment:
SEEDS
Relative Expense:
MODERATELY EXPENSIVE
Notes:
- Moderatly salt tolerant.
- Withstands extreme drought conditions.
- Extensive root system provides excellent erosion protection on critical
areas.
- Can be harvested with a combine and establishes readily from seed.
Associated Species:
BLACK
GRAMA
BUFFALOGRASS
CATCLAW
SENSTIVEBRIAR
COMMON
CURLY MESQUITE
CREOSOTEBUSH
FOURWIND SALTBUSH
HAIRY
GRAMA
HONEY MESQUITE
LITTLE
BLUESTEM
SAND DROPSEED
SCURFPEA
SIDEOATS GRAMA
SWITCHGRASS
WESTERN WHEATGRASS
YELLOW
INDIANGRASS