# Buffalo Grass (*Panicum subalbidum Kunth*)

Buffalo Grass is a resilient grass that grows well in sunny areas. It has a soft texture and is great for making a comfy lawn!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 2
- **Habitat:** Grasslands and prairies
- **Also known as:** Buchloe dactyloides

![Buffalo Grass](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424471/objects/5032.jpg)

## Appearance

The Buffalo Grass is a tall, slender annual grass with upright stems that can reach over a meter in height. Its narrow, green leaves lead to an airy, branched flower head, often appearing whitish or pale green when mature, giving it a light, feathery appearance.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** TRACHEOPHYTA
- **Class:** Liliopsida
- **Order:** POALES
- **Family:** POACEAE
- **Genus:** Panicum

## Interesting facts

- Farmers sometimes grow this 'buffalo grass' as food for their animals, especially cattle!
- It's an annual plant, meaning it lives for just one season, then new plants sprout from seeds!
- Its tiny seeds have been gathered and eaten by people for centuries, like a wild cereal!
- This grass loves warm places and can shoot up quickly after a good rain!

## Special abilities

- **Seed Scatterer:** Buffalo Grass can produce many small seeds that scatter widely, helping it quickly colonize new disturbed areas.
- **Quick Sprouter:** It can sprout rapidly from seeds, allowing it to grow quickly after rains in its warm habitats.
- **Grain Grower:** Buffalo Grass produces edible grains, storing energy for reproduction and providing food for various animals.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 50-150 cm
- **Spread:** 10-30 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Annual
- **Pollination Method:** Wind

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** [Cattle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cattle) (*Bos taurus*) — Grazes on its leaves and stems.
- **Eats:** Humans (*Homo sapiens*) — Harvests its edible grains.
- **Eats:** Millet Leafworm (*Achaea catocaloides*) — Larvae feed on the leaves.
- **Eats:** Red-billed Quelea (*Quelea quelea*) — Flocks consume its abundant seeds.

## Traits

- [Grass-Like](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grass-like): Grass-like plants are herbaceous plants that visually resemble true grasses, typically having long, narrow leaves.
- [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.

## Collections

- [Grasses](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/grasses)
- [Grasses, Shrubs & Bushes](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/grasses-shrubs-and-bushes)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Buffalo Grass?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Buffalo Grass?

50-150 cm

### How wide does Buffalo Grass spread?

10-30 cm

### When does Buffalo Grass bloom?

Summer

### Is Buffalo Grass edible?

Yes

### Is Buffalo Grass toxic?

None

### What is Buffalo Grass's lifecycle?

Annual

### How is Buffalo Grass pollinated?

Wind

## Where to spot

- [San Antonio Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/san-antonio-zoo) — Texas, US · Zoo
- [Box Butte County Courthouse](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/box-butte-county-courthouse) — Nebraska, US · Historic Site

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

---

Source: [Buffalo Grass: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/buffalo-grass)