Buffalo grass is a perennial grass with origins in the Great Plains as far north as Montana.
The reason for the name is that the grass provided nourishment and supported the great herds of buffalo that roamed and ate it along the Great Plains.
The grass was also used as sod by early settlers when they built their houses.
It is a grass capable of surviving extreme environmental conditions as is probably one of our only trued native turfgrass.
Buffalograss has a high tolerance for deep droughts and extraneous temperatures.
Buffalo survives by producing seeds and spreads by surface runners or stolons.
The look of the grass consists of a finely textured and thin turf shaded with a soft blue-green color.
It rarely grows higher than 10 to 12 inches in length and generally falls over at this length giving it a much shorter look.
Buffalo grass is best adapted to areas that have less rainfall or thorough, but rare irrigation.
It does not do well in areas with shade or that are highly trafficked.
It can be established in a lawn from either seed burs or sod.
In Texas, buffalo turf is most often found in the western and northwestern parts of the state.
You will often find them in cemeteries, golf course roughs, parks, school grounds, and roadsides.
It has ideal conditions for anyone that desires a "native" landscape.
If you desire a low maintenance and low use turfgrass, this is your grass.
Buffalo grass usually does not require fertilizer, but sometimes a low dosage of nitrogen can be helpful.