Scientific name: Bouteloua × ‘Zig Zag’

Common name: ‘Zig Zag’ blue grama grass

Plant family: Poaceae

Article by Susan Bruneni

The late David Salman described himself as “an off-the-wall plant nerd” and “a plant explorer with a gift for talking to plants.” These characteristics drove his passion to explore the high-desert west, searching for new varieties of xeric plants that would thrive in Santa Fe. But, it was here in Santa Fe that he discovered a new variety of the already popular blue grama grass. It was a natural hybrid ’(Bouteloua gracilis × hirsuta), compact habit, and named ‘Zig Zag’ in honor of its showier eyebrow-like seed pods.

Salman is credited with discovery of more than 60 varieties of plants, including ‘Zig Zag’. This cultivar has all the typical qualities of blue grama but with a dense and more dramatic (zig-zagged) flower head. These eye-brow-like flowers/seed heads appear in mid-summer and remain on the plant through winter. Salman urged his customers to not cut back grasses in the fall, to enjoy their form, shape, and color during the winter season.

This low-maintenance, long-lived grass is ideal for mass planting and small space gardens. This xeric plant grows in hot sites with poor sandy, rocky, or loam soil as long as there is good drainage. ‘Zig Zag’ is recommended for gardens west of the Mississippi and climates that receive 20 inches or less of rain and snow annually. It is suitable for high elevations above 7,000 feet. It’s a fantastic, long-lived grass to complement all types of perennials and other ornamental grasses. If planted with other types of plants it will tolerate mulch but be careful to limit coverage around ‘Zig Zag’ to one inch. Narrow, bluish-gray leaf blades (to 1/4” wide) typically are produced.

Blue grama grass is on the USDA list of most valuable ornamental grasses to include in a landscape, especially for erosion control. Blue grama was a dominant grass of the short-grass prairies of the Midwest, and remains the largest and most extensive type of grassland in New Mexico. This is the state grass of New Mexico, and is found in every county, growing at elevations less than 4,000 feet to more than 10,000 feet, in plains, grasslands, and open woodlands. Blue grama is often planted as a turfgrass, mixed with buffalograss, and in wildflower meadows. It is one of the most important forage grasses in native ranges. It grows easily from seed and freely self-seeds. It has a deep, fibrous root system and is perhaps the most drought-tolerant native turf grass, surviving with as little as 7 inches of annual rainfall. In its southerly, drier range, it grows in clumps, but with more water, its rhizomes will form a solid mat. It should be cut to the ground in late winter before new shoots appear. During drought, it should be left to grow tall to shade its roots. And it can be mowed to two inches for a summer lawn.

‘Zig Zag’ was planted in the Botanical Garden in July 2022 in the Welcome Garden. Look to the right as you enter through the gate.

If you select a grass for visual effect, make sure to thoroughly investigate your selection for cold hardiness and growth habits and choose a reputable grower. Select a grass that’s hardy for your area with the growth habits (bunching or spreading) that you prefer.

David Salman put his passion for plants into his work and inspired the people around him to learn, experiment, and look to the future with care for our planet. The Garden is growing many of his plants such as ‘Zig Zag’ and look forward to seeing them flourish in the years to come.

References

“Bouteloua gracilis”. Native Plants Database. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. 08 July 2022. Web. 10 Oct 2022. Retrieved from: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=bogr2

“Bouteloua gracilis”. Plant Finder. Missouri Botanical Garden. Web. 10 Oct 2022. Retrieved from: http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=242377

“Bouteloua gracilis”. USDA, NRCS. 2022. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 10/30/2022). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC USA.

Salman, David. “A Western Perspective on Native Plants; A Career Bringing Natives from Habitat to Market”. 2021 Landscaping with Colorado Native Plants Conference. Page 3.

Wikipedia contributors. “Bouteloua gracilis.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 24 Jun. 2022. Web. 31 Oct. 2022.

“Zig Zag Blue Grama Grass”. High Country Gardens. Web. 10 Oct. 2022. Retrieved from: https://www.highcountrygardens.com/perennial-plants/ornamental-grass/bouteloua-gracilis-zig-zag-blue-grama-grass