Both cyclic and prolonged droughts have allowed it to evolve water use efficiency and sod forming ability. People are using this short, fine-leaved prairie grass as an ecologically sound and energy efficient turf. Buffalograss is a warm-season, sod forming grass. Female plants produce one or more burr-like inflorescences that are partially hidden among the leaves near ground level. Buffalograss initiates growth in early May and begins to go dormant in the early fall.
Leaves are blue-green during the growing season.
Great variation exists in color, leaf width and internode length. Buffalograss does not tolerate excessive shade and is not considered well adapted to sandy soils. Once established, it can survive under flooded conditions for short periods of time. Buffalograss has a higher resistance to drought stress, because of its extensive, deep root system and a relatively low water use rate. One or more monthly summer irrigations, depending on rainfall, will normally prevent summer dormancy in buffalograss.