Life Span
Annual and Perennial
Perennial
Type
Grass
Tree
Origin
North America, United States, Western United States, Southwestern United States, Mexico
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States
Types
Bouteloua gracilis
Nyssa sylvatica
Number of Varieties
145
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Open Plains, Prairies
Lowland, Sandy areas, Wet Woods
USDA Hardiness Zone
3-95-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9 - 5
9-7
Sunset Zone
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
Habit
Clump-Forming
Pyramidal
Plant Size
Minimum Height
91.44 cm1,828.80 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
91.44 cm762.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Blue Violet
Yellow green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Dark Blue, Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Blue Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Purple, Blue Green, Tan
Crimson, Dark Red, Orange Red
Leaf Color in Winter
-
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Grass like
Oblovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Summer, Fall, Winter
Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Slow
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Poorly Drained
Bloom Time
Summer, Late Summer
Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Pollution, Drought
Wet Site, Drought, Soil Compaction
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Medium
Average Water Needs, Medium
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Poorly Drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
-
Prune in early spring, Prune in late winter, Prune when plant is dormant, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Pollution
Drought, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Fine
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies, Flying insects
Birds
Allergy
Anaphylaxis, Asthma, Hay fever, Pollen, Respiratory problems, Runny nose, Watery eyes
Mild Allergen, Pollen
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Ground Cover
Used in parkland, Water gardening
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, soil erosion prevension on hill slopes, Wildlife
Air purification, Food for animals, Food for birds, Nesting sites for birds, Shadow Tree, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife, Windbreak
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Cuts
Emetic, Opthalmic, Vermifuge
Part of Plant Used
Seeds, Whole plant
Fruits, Seeds
Other Uses
Used As Food
Food for insects, Used as a dye, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Dried Flower/Everlasting, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Wildflower
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Botanical Name
BOUTELOUA gracilis 'Blonde Ambition'
NYSSA sylvatica
Common Name
Blonde Ambition Blue Grama Grass, Blue Grama Grass
Black Tupelo, Blackgum, Sour Gum
In Hindi
Blue Grama Grass
Black Tupelo Tree
In German
Blau Grama Grass
Schwarz Tupelo Baum
In French
Boutelou gracieux
Noir Arbre Tupelo
In Spanish
Azul Grama Grass
Árbol negro Tupelo
In Greek
Μπλε Grama Grass
Μαύρη Tupelo Δέντρο
In Portuguese
Azul Grama Grama
Árvore Tupelo Preto
In Polish
Niebieski Grama Trawa
Czarny Tupelo Drzewo
In Latin
Blue Grama Grass
Niger Tupelo ligno
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Lilopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Cyperales
Cornales
Family
Poaceae
Nyssaceae
Genus
Bouteloua
Nyssa
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
Bombini
Subfamily
-
Nyssoideae
Number of Species
5045
1
27800
👆🏻