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1. Choose a spot on your property that receives at least 6 hours of sun per day.
2. Prepare your soil by clearing the area of all existing growth.
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5. After planting, give the area a good water.
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Blonde Ambition Blue Grama Grass (Bouteloua gracilis Blonde Ambition) is a native ornamental grass with a completely new look. The horizontal eyelash-like chartreuse flowers appear in mid-summer and age to blonde seed heads by fall. They are held on the plant right through the winter to provide many months of interest. Now available in flats fo 12 for a dramatic-looking mass planting! 2011 Plant of The Year
Blonde Ambition Blue Grama Grass (Bouteloua gracilis Blonde Ambition) is an exceptionally large growing selection of our native Blue Grama Grass and has 2 1/2 to 3 ft. tall stems of flowers that mature to long-lasting blonde seed heads. These flag-like flowers rise up out of the blue-green foliage in mid-summer and are held on stiff, weather resistant stems. 'Blonde Ambition' Blue Grama Grass provides exceptional winter interest as the stems of seed heads pop up even after a heavy snow and remain standing through winter, giving the grass 6 to 8 months of garden color and texture.
Seldom does a new grass selection offer the gardener something so completely different and exciting. Its profusion of big, showy chartreuse flowers, held horizontally above the leaves is unlike any other ornamental grass in cultivation. This beauty is extremely cold hardy, grows in a wide range of soil types and is a perfect choice for low maintenance home or commercial landscapes. 'Blonde Ambition' Grass is native to 26 states and performs well across the country, particularly in hardiness zones 4-9. Cut back old stems to 2-3” above ground-level in mid-spring. Divide every third year. Discovered and introduced by David Salman of High Country Gardens. (Propagated by division). 30-36" tall x 30-36" wide.
Plant Select Winner 2011; 2011 High Country Gardens Plant of the Year. Blonde Ambition Blue Grama Grass was named by the Plant Select gardeners' survey as the best perennial of 2013. See inspirational photos of Blonde Ambition Blue Grama Grass used in the landscape at Vineyard Haven: A Napa Valley Garden That Belongs to the Land
Flat of 12 plants will cover 30-36 square feet when planted together
Plant Shipping: Buy now and we will ship your order at the ideal planting time for your region. Spring-Planted Perennial and Bulb orders will ship from April 23-June 30, warmest zones first.
Most plant and bulb orders arrive within 2-6 days, or less, of leaving our greenhouses in Colorado. This prompt delivery is provided without additional express charges.
Grass Plugs Will ship at planting time in spring, beginning in late February.
Wildflower Seed & Grass Seed Orders ship within 2-3 days.
Standard shipping costs are $4.99 and up, depending on the size of the order.
Make Fast Even Faster: For ‘Rush’ same week delivery, please call customer service at 800-925-9387.
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REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
(based on 31 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
5 Stars
(22)
4 Stars
(5)
3 Stars
(3)
2 Stars
(0)
1 Stars
(1)
97%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Most Liked Positive Review
NOT your regular bouteloua
I live at 7000' in Flagstaff AZ. I love my native Blue Grama grass and thought, what's the deal about blonde ambition? WELL. It has a tighter growth pattern, more impressive seed...Read complete review
I live at 7000' in Flagstaff AZ. I love my native Blue Grama grass and thought, what's the deal about blonde ambition? WELL. It has a tighter growth pattern, more impressive seed heads, and best of all, once the weather turns cold, it stays upright and turns an incredible reddish orange. I love love love this grass. I'm only in my second year of it and cannot wait until it starts peaking next year.
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
Still waiting for green...
I planted Blonde Ambition as a landscape specimen, expecting that it would eventually spread. Of the four plants that I bought, only two are greening up this Spring. The other two appear to...Read complete review
I planted Blonde Ambition as a landscape specimen, expecting that it would eventually spread. Of the four plants that I bought, only two are greening up this Spring. The other two appear to be dead. All are in the same area and receive the same care. I am not sure if it was the winter that killed them, or if they were not the healthiest of plants when they arrived. I am usually satisfied with your products, but disappointed about these.
Reviewed by 31 customers
Displaying reviews 1-30
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Moderate growth in year 1
By Mountain Fairy
from Salt Lake City, UT
About Me Avid Gardener
Comments about High Country Gardens Bouteloua gracilis Blonde Ambition:
I planted two of these last May. Of all the plants and grasses I ordered from this website, this grass did the best. However, I still feel the size plant I received was very small for the price, and I would have been better buying at the local nursery or even big-box store. The plants sent are simply too tiny, and it takes them forever to become something that even resembles a plant! This one actually did produce some attractive seed heads by the end of summer, but the ones who were locally bought by my neighbor grew much more than mine. My grasses barely grew to 3 square inches. This spring, they appear to be slow starters. I really hope they will thrive, as I do like them a lot. I just feel I did not get good value for the money I paid. If they thrive and get a growth spurt in year 2, I might still recommend them, but right now, I am disappointed with the value-for-money.
One of my favorite grasses!
By Barb
from Livingston MT
About Me Master Gardener
See all my reviews
Great mixed with other native grasses and wildflowers and survives the winds of Paradise Valley!
Lovely! But only one of three survived.
By little old gardener
from Colorado Springs
I loved the one plant that lived but wonder why two didn't.
Unusual and Beautiful!
By SusieQ
from York
Interesting , unusual plant that gets lots of comments!
Wow!
By LP
from Denver
Stunning! Hot/dry hillside beautuful since day one and showing great winter garden interest
beautiful airy grass of mid size, drought tolerant
By Reg
from Broomfield
used in a rock bed
Happy, Happy, Happy!
By Connie, the fiber artist
from Wichita, Kansas
Slowly, I'm removing all the lawn (grass) in our front yard and xeriscaping the entire area. Blonde Ambition was one of my wise choices from HCG, and she's beautiful. I cannot wait until spring to add even more unusual grasses and plants to my project.
Very attractive.
By no name
from Santa Fe
Very attractive, hardy. Will buy more.
(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)
Stayed small, never filled out
By Karen
from Wilton
All of the plants I received were in very small pots and never grew to any appreciable size all summer...very disappointing, and many of them died.
Gorgious
By Gardening Fool
from Bakersfield, VT
What a great plant. Love the horizontal eyelashes! Very healthy on arrival and thrived in the nursery bed!
(0 of 1 customers found this review helpful)
Need Some More of These!
By Old Lady
from Southwest Michigan
Was less 'blonde' than I thought it would be, but was healthy and established pretty quickly. I don't know if it made it through the winter yet; it's still too cold for it to come out of dormancy if it did. If It lives, I am getting some more.
Fantastic texture and color!
By PLL
from Highland Village Texas
Bought 3 plants for texture in my rock garden. Just last week had to move and divide due to their size and to appreciate the movement of the grasses better as they were crammed between other plants. Extremely happy with the grass...moves beautifully in the breeze!
Bouteloua gracilis Blonde Ambition
By Garden Artist
from Oak Hills, California (Monterey County)
These grasses are doing well in heavy clay soil with very little water. Sunlight is also limited in our foggy California Central Coast location. Their growth rate is slow under these conditions, but they are healthy and I'm looking forward to their bloom period.
(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)
By Cathy, Duchess of Dirt
from Harding County, New Mexico
Survived!!
By Madame Jardinière
from Salt Lake City, Utah
About Me Getting Started
I was relieved this lovely grass survived our very long, cold winter. It is still very small - hardly yet even an inch high. I'm eager for it to grow.
(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)
Definitely a favorite!
By Bee
from Northern Wyoming
The Blonde Ambition gracilis is a really lovely grass. I grouped 6-7, staggered along either side of a path. Love how the grass heads stand out, nice effect!! In northern Wyoming, the plants were slow to get new growth but picked up nicely after settling. The deer & rabbits don't like them either. Been over a year and they are flourishing. Definitely a favorite!
A delightful 'blond moment'
By Ginny
from Hagerstown, Md
My 3 little plants arrived healty looking, but small. I thought I'd be waiting a couple years for a big show. But I was wrong! They ended the season as tall, full clumps of grass. I am leaving them for winter interest because the seed heads are so pretty! I'm so pleased with my choice.
(4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)
Blond ambition
By Droughtrunner
from Sacramento, CA
Many, many Californians are ripping out thirsty lawns and planting low water landscapes. The Blond Ambition grass is one of my new plants and it seems to like our hot valley climate. I like the floaty seed heads, they are horizontal and move nicely in a breeze. This is their first winter, but the plants are attractive . I'm happy
(1 of 2 customers found this review helpful)
Strange looking but awesome!
By Grass Maven
from Sun City, CA
This plant is different from anything else I have in my garden - that is why I like it so much. It looking like something from another plant and that is what makes it fun and enjoyable.
Must buy more!
By Julie
from Westfield,MA.
I only bought one of these as its an experiment to see if it survives in New England. This plant doubled in size this summer and if it makes it through the winter I have high hopes for it and plan to buy more.
Very impressed with this fast growing ornamental grass
By Tammi the do-it-herselfer
from Brighton, CO
Planted this in a rock border on the west side of the house, in sandy soil. It gets full sun all summer long. I watered it for the first 2 weeks and then left it be, other than a rare watering if I happened to have the hose out. It did great, went from a 3 wispy sprigs to a nice clump in just 1 summer.. Am definitely planning to buy more for other areas in the yard where I want some variety but don't want to water.
(6 of 6 customers found this review helpful)
great for central texas
By the brown thub
from central texas
I saw this grass used in lieu of a lawn in California. We have simlar soil in the Austin Tx area. this plant has seen extreme weather and is thriving! from torrential down pours to extreme heat and drought it has toughed it out. Not one plant died. I wish we had bought more.
Blonde Ambition
By Grassgirl2
from Rapid City SD
Absolutely beautiful! Does great here in Zone 4.
Out Performs Any Grass - Beautiful And Tough
By Rhoda K
from Arlington, Tx
I xeriscape our front yard with Blonde Ambition. It out performs any full-sun grass. It establishes easily and quickly and requires almost no extra water.The little fluffy seed heads are beautiful year-round.
Garden Beauty
By Mary
from Wilson, Idaho High Mountain Desert
Everyone comment on how much this beauty looked in the garden last year. It is an excellent back drop to my desert flowers. This is it's second year is and came back great.
(5 of 5 customers found this review helpful)
I love this plant
By Mary Mary Quite Contrary
from Chino Valley, AZ
this was a plant in the Hero Habitat I purchased and the extras I bought were used to augment a larger area
(3 of 4 customers found this review helpful)
Uncertain
By Janice
from Paonia, CO
No sign of life yet this year, but perhaps it's early. I planted them mid-summer and they did all right: not a lot of growth, but it was very hot. We have Very Poor soil.
Love this one!
By 125roses
from Lubbock, TX.
The first year I grew this in a pot. It did well and the unusual blooms provided an interesting accent. This spring it is planted in the border. It is coming up and looking like it will do even better in the ground.
wow
By GrassLover
from NM
naturally beautiful up/outwards growth, very healthy and hardy and a sturdy grass (a yr later going strong/steady growing)! And comes with money back guarantee.
(9 of 11 customers found this review helpful)
By Ruby Colorado
from Flagstaff AZ
To determine if a plant is sufficiently cold hardy, the USDA created numbered zones indicating winter low temperatures; the lower the zone number the colder the winter.
Enter your Zip Code to find your USDA Planting Zone
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