Grass Atlas

Explore grass in 3D.

Choose a grass. Turn the 3D model to see its blades, roots, runners, and seedhead up close.

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Warm season

Buffalograss

Bouteloua dactyloides · Zones 3 to 9

Tap a number on the grass, or choose a part here.

What to notice

Blade tip

The very end of a blade can look pointed, round, or like the front of a tiny boat. This small shape helps tell grasses apart.

On this grassThe fine blade tapers to a point and often curls as it dries.

Species details and sources

A native North American prairie grass requiring minimal water and fertilizer. Ideal for eco-friendly lawns in the Great Plains region.

Licensed field reference

Reference: BuffalograssCC0

ID fingerprint

Fine gray-green curled blades
Hairy ridged leaf surfaces
Male and female flowers differ

Photos worth taking

Soft gray-green / sage color distinct from the true green of other lawns
Fine, curly blades that arch over, giving a slightly shaggy, prairie look
Thin, open, low-growing turf with fine stolons visible between plants

Model boundaries

Buffalograss is dioecious. A single modeled plant must show male flowers or female burs, never both.
Vegetatively propagated turf cultivars can be female-only, and mowing can remove floral evidence. Flower states need to be optional.
The sources confirm rolled vernation and hairy surfaces. Mature-blade curl stays modest because it varies across real plants.

Blade: Fine (1-2mm)
Tip & shape: Fine, soft, curly
Surface: Soft
Spreads by: Spreading (stolons)

Checked againstBuffalograss plant identification profile Turfgrass: A Middle School Curriculum Buffalograss Lawns

Next: Care guideLearn how to grow BuffalograssMowing · Watering · Lawn problemsRead guide

A photo is a lead, not a diagnosis.Confirm blade, collar, growth habit, and seedhead traits before buying seed or choosing a grass-specific treatment.

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