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Grass Like

Bouteloua gracilis 'Blonde Ambition'

A tufted, deciduous grass to 70cm height, with blue-grey linear leaves which turn brown or sometimes orange-red in the autumn. Slender stems bear a few one-sided, horizontal, comb-like greenish-yellow flower spikes, turning to straw-yellow in summer. These turn to blonde seed heads which remain on the stems through autumn and early winter. An interesting choice for edging a sunny path or in pots and containers

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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

1–2 years

Ultimate spread

0.5–1 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Poaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Bouteloua can be annuals, rhizomatous or stoloniferous perennial grasses, with linear leaves and erect stems bearing distinctive flattened, horizontal flowering spikes
Name status: Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in a sharply drained soil soil in full sun. Avoid winter wet. See ornamental grasses cultivation for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed in containers in a cold frame in spring. Alternatively divide clumps from mid-spring to early summer. Self-seeds freely but easy to remove unwanted seedlings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Gravel garden
Patio and container plants
Flower borders and beds
Garden edging

Pruning

Cut back overwintered material in early spring, just before new growth begins. See ornamental grasses cultivation

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Get involved

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