Buffalo grass belongs to the Grass family, Poaceae.

• Only grass in the genus Buchloe, and one of few that reproduce from above ground stems called stolons.
• B. dactyloides plant is unisexual.
• Female plant produces seed burs on short stems close to the ground and the male produces flowers on thin stalks above the leaf region and look similar to the seed heads of Blue grama.
• Found also in fine textured soils and can produce an abundant portion of forage.
• Productivity of the grass can increase from heavy grazing pressure, and become an overall invader of the true prairie.

Once established it forms a tight sod and is very drought tolerable. It is favorable for both its drought tolerance and erosion control, and can be found in many residential areas that are xeriscaping their yards.

For a complete Refuge species list

For in-depth plant information
connect with the U.S. Dept Agriculture Plant Data Base

Last Updated: 1/14/09

Plants that grow naturally on this short grass prairie are called "native" plants. The Refuge has four major groups.

• Grasses
• Wildflowers
• Shrubs
• Trees

Vegetation on the Rocky Mountain Arsenal is a mixture of different grasses, shrubs. semi-shrubs, forbes and wildflowers.

Several species of prairie grass grow on the Refuge but the most common are the perennial BLUE GRAMA and WESTERN WHEAT GRASS.

Learn more about prairie grasses at
FRONT RANGE LIVING.