We admit that we're biased, but we are totally smitten with Blue Grama. This perennial is found throughout North America in short-grass prairies and is one of the primary native grasses in our lower elevation project sites such as Garden of the Gods. It is easily identified by its "eyelash" seed heads. It is a warm season tufted perennial that grows 15-30 cm tall. Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) is one of the primary grasses we use to revegetate project areas within Garden of the Gods. It's an important grass for the highly erodible soils of the Garden because of its effectiveness at erosion control. It's dense, shallow root mass helps hold soil in place. 

In 1987 it became the state grass of Colorado. According to the State of Colorado, it was chosen to help inform and educate citizens and tourists about the importance of the state's grasslands. It's working, except the name is sometimes confusing. One middle school student once asked us why we were planting "blue grandmas."