Side-oats grama is a bunchy or sod-forming grass with 2-3 ft. stems in erect, wiry clumps. Stunning, purplish, oat-like spikelets uniformly line one side of the stem, bleaching to a tan color in the fall. The basal foliage often turns shades of purple and red in fall. This is a perennial warm-season grass, clump-forming. This medium-tall grass mixes well in plantings with spring wildflowers because it stays short in the spring. Birds love the ripe seeds.

Easily grown in average, dry to medium moisture soils in full sun. Tolerates wide range of soil conditions from well-drained sandy soils to heavy clays. Cut clumps to the ground in late winter.

Host plant for the Green and Dotted Skipper Butterfly