The Only Native Lawn Grass
Buffalo grass is the only commonly used lawn grass native to North America. It evolved on the Great Plains alongside bison herds (hence the name) and is uniquely adapted to hot summers, cold winters, alkaline soils, and minimal rainfall. While most lawn grasses were imported from Africa (bermuda), Asia (zoysia), or Europe (bluegrass, fescue), buffalo grass belongs here.
That native adaptation means buffalo grass needs less water, less fertilizer, and less mowing than any other lawn grass. In our region (Central Plains), buffalo grass lawns can survive on 1 inch of water per month, less than a quarter of what bluegrass demands. The downside: buffalo grass is slow to establish, goes dormant early in fall, greens up late in spring, and doesn’t tolerate shade or heavy traffic.
Buffalo Grass Varieties
| Variety | Type | Color | Best Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| UC Verde | Sod/plugs only | Dark green | Southwest lawns (zones 7 to 10) |
| Prestige | Sod/plugs only | Blue-green | Premium lawns, Great Plains |
| Legacy | Seeded | Green | General use, available as seed |
| Bowie | Seeded | Green | Improved seeded variety, drought focus |
Vegetative varieties (UC Verde, Prestige) are denser and finer-textured than seeded types but cost significantly more because they must be established from sod or plugs. Seeded varieties (Legacy, Bowie) are more affordable but slower to fill in and coarser in texture.
Growing Conditions
Buffalo grass performs best in USDA zones 4 through 8 with full sun (8+ hours), alkaline to neutral soil (pH 6.5 to 8.0), and low rainfall areas. It handles extreme cold (survives to minus 20 degrees) and extreme heat (thrives at 100+ degrees) equally well. It does NOT tolerate shade, heavy foot traffic, or wet soils. In the Omaha metro, buffalo grass works well on south-facing slopes, new developments with unimproved soil, and low-traffic areas where water conservation is the priority.
