Scientific Name: BUCHLOE DACTYLOIDES
Common Name: BUFFALOGRASS
Erosion Index: EXCELLENT
Erosion Index Value: 7.62
Wildlife Index: GOOD
Wildlife Index Value: 5.38
Ecological Distribution: PINEYWOODS, GULF PRAIRIES AND MARSHES, POST OAK SAVANNAH, BLACKLAND PRAIRIES, CROSS TIMBERS AND PRAIRIES, SOUTH TEXAS PLAINS, EDWARDS PLATEAU, ROLLING PLAINS, HIGH PLAINS, TRANS-PECOS
Topographic Tolerance: UPLAND, BOTTOMLAND
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: FACULTATIVE 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, SOD-FORMING, DENSE FOLIAGE, CLOSE GROUND COVER, SHALLOW ROOTED
Hardiness: DROUGHT TOLERANT, GRAZING TOLERANT, FIRE TOLERANT, INSECT TOLERANT, COLD TOLERANT
Vegetative Growth Period: MAY, JUN, JUL, AUG, SEP, OCT
Flowering Period: APR, MAY, JUN, JUL, AUG, SEP, OCT
Fruiting Period: MAY, JUN, JUL, AUG, SEP, OCT, NOV
Soil Moisture: WITHSTANDS SHORT-DURATION SATURATION
Soil Texture: TOLERANT TO CLAYEY SOILS, TOLERANT TO SILTY SOILS, TOLERANT TO LOAMY SOILS
Soil Fertility: TOLERANT OVER WIDE FERTILITY RANGE
Parent Material: TOLERANT OVER WIDE RANGE
Soil pH: NEUTRAL, SLIGHTLY ALKALINE
Optimum pH: NEUTRAL
Soil Depth: WIDE RANGE OF SOIL DEPTHS
Salinity: OBLIGATE TO NON-SALINE (FRESH) SOIL/WATER 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, UPLAND GAME BIRDS, WATERFOWL, NONGAME BIRDS, CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS, HORSES
Small Mammal Food: GOOD
Large Mammal Food: FAIR
Upland Game Birds Food: GOOD
Waterfowl Food: GOOD
Nongame Birds Food: GOOD
Small Mammal Cover: FAIR
Large Mammal Cover: FAIR
Upland Game Birds Cover: FAIR
Waterfowl Cover: FAIR
Nongame Birds Cover: FAIR
Toxicity Potential: NONE KNOWN
Toxicity Season:  
Effectiveness Period: SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM
Raindrop Impact: MEDIUM
Erosion Hardiness: HIGH
Ease of Propagation: MEDIUM
Soil Binding: MEDIUM
Soil Enrichment Potential: LOW
Nitrogen Fixation Potential: LOW
Growth Inhibitor Production: LOW
Source Availability: COMMON LOCAL RETAIL NURSERY OR SEED OUTLET, SPECIALIZED COMMERCIAL OR WHOLESALE OUTLET
Seed Germination Ratio: MEDIUM
Reproduction: SEEDS, STOLONS, RHIZOMES
Seed Dispersal Success Potential: WIND
Seed Establishment Success Potential: MEDIUM
Cuttings Establishment Success Potential: LOW
Transplanting Establishment Success Potential: LOW
Establishment Time Interval: OVER 3 YEARS
Recommended Establishment: SEEDS
Relative Expense: MODERATELY EXPENSIVE
Notes: - Highly drought resistant, sod-forming grass. - Cannot compete with tall, deep-rooted grasses. - Ideal for erosion control ground cover, aggressive spreading, wide climatic adaptation, and ease of establishment. - Seeds readily available.

Associated Species:

AGARITO BLACK HICKORY
BLACKJACK OAK BLUE GRAMA
BLUESTEM, LITTLE BROWNSEED PASPALUM
CATCLAW ACACIA COMMON CURLY MESQUITE
CORALBERRY ELBOWBUSH
ELM SPP. ESCARPMENT LIVE OAK
GUM BUMELIA HAIRY GRAMA
HAWTHORN SPP. HONEY MESQUITE
HUISACHE INDIAN BLANKET
JUNIPER SPP. LIVE OAK
LOTEBUSH POST OAK
REDBUD SAND DROPSEED
SHIN OAK SIDEOATS GRAMA
SUGAR HACKBERRY SUMAC SPP.
SWITCHGRASS TEXAS BLUEBONNET
TEXAS PERSIMMON WESTERN WHEATGRASS
YELLOW INDIANGRASS