Bouteloua gracilis 'Blonde Ambition' PP22048

Blonde Ambition Blue Grama

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Bouteloua gracilis 'Blonde Ambition,' commonly known as Blue Grama, and sometimes listed as Chondrosum gracile 'Blonde Ambition', stands as an exceptional choice for landscape architects and designers seeking a native and visually appealing grass species for their projects. With its unique form, cold-hardiness, adaptive nature, and distinctive flowering habit, this grass adds a touch of elegance to diverse landscape designs.

Origin and Adaptability:

Hailing from the prairies of North America, Blue Grama is deeply rooted in the native landscapes of the Great Plains. This grass's adaptation to a wide range of soil types and climates makes it an ideal candidate for landscape designs, particularly those aiming to evoke a sense of natural beauty and sustainability. The initial specimen of Blonde Ambition was unearthed by the now-deceased David Salman in a Santa Fe, New Mexico setting in 2008. Flourishing at approximately 6,800 feet above sea level, this cultivated variety is a deviation from the prevalent Blue Grama (Bouteloua gracilis) native to the western Great Plains. Notably, it distinguishes itself from the species through its heightened ornamental features.

Architectural Form and Foliage:

Blue Grama exhibits a distinctive bunchgrass growth habit with fine-textured, blue-green foliage. Its unique seed heads, resembling delicate eyelashes, lend an architectural elegance to the landscape. Designers can leverage the grass's clumping nature to create visually interesting patterns and textures within their designs.

Floral Display and Growth Speed:

The highlight of 'Blonde Ambition' is its captivating seed heads, which are held horizontally and develop a blonde hue as they mature. Flowers are miniscule chartreuse displays. This adds a dynamic element to the landscape, especially when the grass is backlit by the sun. The speed of growth for Blue Grama is moderate, allowing designers to plan and implement their designs with a good understanding of the grass's development over time.

Light Requirements and Drought Tolerance:

Blue Grama thrives in full sun, showcasing its best qualities when exposed to abundant sunlight. Its excellent drought tolerance and dislike of wet and humidity, makes it an invaluable asset for water-wise landscape designs. This adaptability to arid conditions allows designers to incorporate Blue Grama into a variety of projects in the Desert Southwest, contributing to sustainable and resilient outdoor spaces. If extreme heat is a concern, the grass can be planted in partial shade.

Wildlife Support:

The unique seed heads of 'Blonde Ambition' serve not only as a visual delight but also attract birds and other wildlife. The seeds provide a food source for birds, adding an ecological dimension to landscape designs that prioritize biodiversity and habitat creation.

Challenges and Considerations:

While Blue Grama is a relatively low-maintenance grass, designers should consider its growth habit and space requirements. At 32” tall and wide, it is considered a relatively large grass. The clumping nature of the grass can be strategically used to create naturalistic arrangements, but understanding its mature size is crucial for effective design implementation. It appreciates being divided every 3 to 5 years.

Integration into Landscape Designs:

With its native charm, adaptability, and distinctive seed heads, Blue Grama seamlessly integrates into both traditional and contemporary landscape designs. Designers can use it as a ground cover, in mass plantings, or as an accent within a xeriscape, providing versatility in design applications.

Designing with Blue Grama:

Landscape architects can leverage the unique characteristics of 'Blonde Ambition' to enhance the visual appeal and ecological sustainability of their designs. Whether employed in meadow-inspired landscapes or as a focal point within a garden, Blue Grama contributes to the creation of resilient and aesthetically pleasing outdoor environments.

For landscape architects and designers, Bouteloua gracilis 'Blonde Ambition' offers an opportunity to incorporate a native grass species that adds visual interest, supports wildlife, and aligns with principles of sustainability, contributing to the creation of harmonious and resilient outdoor spaces.

FAMILY

Poaceae (Gramineae)

MATURE HEIGHT

2 to 3 ft

GROWTH HABIT

Clumping, upright

WATER REQUIREMENT

Water deeply during establishment. Drought tolerant, but provide supplemental water in hottest months.

HARDY TO

-30°F

NATIVE REGION

From Manitoba Canada south and west across the Rocky Mountains, Great Plains, and Midwest states to Mexico

TYPE

Grass

SOIL TYPE

Well-draining. It performs well in sandy, loamy, clay, rocky, or gravelly soils, as long as drainage is adequate. In hot, arid climates, it can tolerate clay soil, but in regions with higher rainfall, sandy or rocky soils are preferable to ensure fast drainage. Thrives well in alkaline soils. Works well for erosion control.

MAINTENACE TIPS

Be careful when weeding, as the old foliage does not separate from the live growth easily. Weeding may be required in the center of the clump to prevent it from dying out. Divide clumps every 3-5 years, in early to mid-spring, when the center begins to thin out.

ELEVATION

Up to 6500 feet

2 to 3 ft

MATURE WIDTH

LEAF SHAPE

Bouteloua gracilis 'Blonde Ambition' is a cultivar of Blue Grama grass with thin, blue-green foliage that forms dense clumps. Its distinctive leaves are long and slender, with the most notable feature being the large, horizontal, chartreuse-to-blonde seed heads that appear in late summer and persist through the winter, standing out against the blue-green blades.

FLOWER COLOR

Blonde, chartreuse green maturing into a warm blonde color

FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS

Bouteloua gracilis 'Blonde Ambition' flowers are arranged on a spikelet that has two spikes extending out at a sharp angle from the stalk, giving them a horizontal appearance. The sideways inflorescences are similar to eye lashes growing at right angles. The flowers create a shimmering effect as they wave like a flag in the breeze and persist throughout the fall and winter.

FRUIT/SEED

The 'Blonde Ambition' cultivar of Bouteloua gracilis is known for its highly ornamental, horizontally held seed heads that are larger and more numerous than those of the straight species. The fruit of Bouteloua gracilis is a caryopsis (a dry, one-seeded fruit), and it is encased within the persistent florets that make up the distinctive seed heads. A defining feature of 'Blonde Ambition' is the longevity of its seed heads. They remain intact on the plant through the fall and into the winter, often holding up against snow.

SUN EXPOSURE

Full Sun

POLLINATORS

Butterflies, moths, and bird habitat. The grass is a crucial host plant for the larvae (caterpillars) of several species of skipper butterflies, including the Garita, Green, Pahaska, Rhesus, and Uncas skippers. Grazing material for large herbivores and small animals.

PRUNING TIPS

Cut old foliage back to 2 to 4 inches in late winter or early spring before new growth appears. Use hand pruners or a hedge trimmer to cut it as close to the ground as possible, then remove the dead thatch from the center of the clump with gloved hands to make space for new growth.