Texas Grama
Bouteloua rigidiseta
Last reviewed: October 2026
Texas grama is a low-growing bunchgrass that thrives in full sun with little supplemental water, blooming from March through November across dry prairies and rocky grasslands.
Toxicity unknown
Texas Grama (Bouteloua rigidiseta) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
12"–24" H × 12"–24" W
Bloom
Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov
Native to
AR, LA, NM, OK and 1 more states
Pollinators
butterflies
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
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Texas Grama is a compact native bunch grass that forms neat clumps with fine-textured foliage. It produces delicate seed heads from spring through fall and goes dormant in winter, turning golden brown.
Growing Texas Grama
Grow Texas Grama in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 12 to 24 inches tall and spread 12 to 24 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Texas Grama is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.
Works well in: front yard, mid zone.
- Cut back in late winter
Wildlife value
This grass supports butterflies and provides seed for birds. Its long blooming period offers extended habitat value throughout the growing season.
Common questions
- When does Texas grama bloom?
- Texas grama produces its small seed heads from March through November, with flowering activity concentrated in the warmer months of the growing season.
- How much water does Texas grama need?
- This grass is adapted to low-water conditions and does well in dry, well-drained soils once established, making it a good fit for xeric plantings.
- What kind of light does Texas grama prefer?
- It grows best in full sun and can tolerate some part-sun conditions, but dense shade will reduce its vigor and seed production.
- Do pollinators use Texas grama?
- Butterflies visit Texas grama, and as a grass it also serves as host and habitat structure for various skipper and satyr butterfly larvae in grassland ecosystems.
- What kind of landscape suits Texas grama?
- It is well suited to short-grass prairie restorations, rock gardens, and low-maintenance lawns where a fine-textured, drought-tolerant groundcover grass is desired.
- Is Texas Grama HOA-friendly?
- Texas Grama is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Texas Grama? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.