Bouteloua curtipendula, commonly known as sideoats grama, is a perennial, short prairie grass that is native throughout the temperate and tropical Western Hemisphere, from Canada south to Argentina.
Medium height plant to 80 cm tall. Leaves are 30 cm long and from 2.5 to 7 mm across. Flowers and seeds are borne along one side of the inflorescence, a distinct character in this group. Old flowerstalks often show the points of attachment along one side of the stem. Flowers often have some red-purple coloration. More common on north-facing slopes and boulder piles in the preserve.
Sideoats grama grows well on mountainous plateaus, rocky slopes, and sandy plains. It is drought- and cold-tolerant and is hardy in USDA hardiness zones 4–9 (average annual minimums of −30 to 25 °F, −34 to −4 °C).
Sideoats grama is considered a good foraging grass for livestock. It is planted for erosion control.