Buffalo Grass - is a warm-season grass and is a dominant specieis of shortgrass prairies of the Great Plains and Midwest and is native throughout most of the United States. It is very drought tolerant and is ideal in garden landscapes, prairie restoration, xeriscaing and range mixes as its a forage for White-tailed Deer, Bison, and Prairie Dogs. Domesticated animals will also use it for forage. This is the larval host for the Green Skipper Butterfly. Edging should be used in areas in where it is not wanted as it is stoloniferous in nature.
In winter it does go dormant and will turn brown but by late spring into summer it will remain green even in the driest conditions. It is as home in the south as it is in the north. The seed is soaked in Potassium nitrate to help with germination. It is a naturally occurring substance and is in all buffalos grass sold in the U.S.
This is a very hardy perennial and easily survives down to USDA Zone 3. Buchloe dactyloide
Characteristics:
- Hardy to zone 3, perennial
- 2-3 foot tall clumps
- Blue-Green foliage turns copper-red in the fall
- Erosion control plantings
- 55 Seeds per packet, .5 grams will cover 5 sq ft densely, 1 oz will cover 250 sq ft densely.
Instructions -Seeds can also be directly sown into a weed-free seedbed in May or June as they germinate in warm weather. You can seed earlier or later, but do make sure it is with the compansions or oats to provide cover and prevent weeds from growing. Not recommended for heavy clay.
Alternatively Start Indoors late winter to early spring
- Sow 1/2" deep
- Germination 14-20 days
- Thin 24" apart
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of the availability