Bouteloua curtipendula
Side-oats grama
(c) Samuel A. Schmid, Ph.D., some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Samuel A. Schmid, Ph.D. · licence
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Bouteloua curtipendula (Side-oats grama) is a native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by perennial habit and larger size.
Side-oats grama is a California native perennial grass found in southern Sierra Valley (Yolo County as a roadside waif), eastern Peninsular Range, eastern desert mountains, and southwestern Sonoran Desert in dry, rocky slopes, scrub, and woodland habitats at elevations below 1,900 meters. Flowering from April to November, this grass produces delicate brown to grayish spikelets that hang pendulously from its branches in distinctive one-sided clusters. Growing with erect stems 20 to 90 centimeters tall, it forms clumps with slender, slightly rhizomatous growth. Its narrow leaves are less than 25 centimeters long and narrower than 4 millimeters wide, giving the plant a fine, graceful texture. The grass's unique seed-bearing branches, which drop their spikelets when mature, create a characteristic cascading appearance that makes side-oats grama easily recognizable in its native landscapes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; key feature is perennial habit and larger size
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, rocky slopes, crevices, sandy to rocky drainages, scrub, woodland
Elevation: < 1900 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego, Yolo
Outside California: to southern Canada, eastern United States, southern Mexico, South America
Bloom period
Bouteloua curtipendula blooms Apr-Nov.
How to tell it apart
vs Cenchrus: Bouteloua has one-sided comb-like spikes; Cenchrus has spiny burs around the spikelets.; vs Melica: Bouteloua has spikelets on one side only; Melica has spikelets all around the branches.; vs Avena: Bouteloua has tiny comb-like spikes; Avena has large, dangling spikelets in open clusters.; vs Ehrharta: Bouteloua has 3-veined lemmas; Ehrharta has hardened sterile lemmas below the fertile one.; vs Hordeum: Bouteloua has one-sided brush spikes; Hordeum has cylindrical spikes with bristly glumes all around.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bouteloua curtipendula native to California?
Yes. Bouteloua curtipendula is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Bouteloua curtipendula bloom?
Bouteloua curtipendula blooms Apr-Nov.
Where in California does Bouteloua curtipendula grow?
Bouteloua curtipendula occurs in San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego, Yolo, at elevations of < 1900 m.
What plant family does Bouteloua curtipendula belong to?
Bouteloua curtipendula is in the Poaceae family, genus Bouteloua.
What habitat does Bouteloua curtipendula grow in?
Bouteloua curtipendula grows in Dry, rocky slopes, crevices, sandy to rocky drainages, scrub, woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.