Buffalo Grass
A native North American grass adapted to the Great Plains. Buffalo grass has very fine, soft blades and is one of the most drought-tolerant grasses available. It requires minimal water and fertilizer, making it ideal for low-maintenance or eco-friendly lawns.
- Season
- Warm-season
- Mow height
- 2–3 inches
- Spreads by
- Stolons (above-ground runners)
- Blade width
- Fine
- Drought tolerance
- High
- Shade tolerance
- Low
- Regions
- Great Plains, Midwest
Buffalo grass (Bouteloua dactyloides) is native to the central US prairies and is exceptionally well adapted to hot, dry summers and cold winters. It spreads by surface stolons and forms a soft, blue-green turf. The main drawbacks are slow establishment and poor shade tolerance.
Best use: Low-maintenance, drought-tolerant lawns in the Great Plains and Midwest.
Mowing: Keep at 2–3 inches. Can be left unmowed for a more natural prairie look.
Fertilizer: Very light feeder — 1–2 lbs of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft per year maximum. Over-fertilizing encourages weeds.
Watering: Extremely drought-tolerant. Rainfall alone is often sufficient in much of its range.
More on Grass Types
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