About Buffelgrass

Why it's an Issue

Buffelgrass is spreading rapidly across Arizona's deserts and poses an immediate threat to the integrity of the Sonoran desert.  Buffelgrass, (Pennisetum ciliare), is a fire-prone grass introduced from the African savannah that grows in dense stands, crowds out native plants and can fuel frequent and devastating fires in what has been generally a fireproof desert. Competition for water can weaken and kill desert plants, even larger trees and cacti, while dense roots and ground shading prevent germination of native seeds. Buffelgrass can kill or exclude most native plants by these means alone; wildfires will only hasten the process.  

In the past two years, the invasion of buffelgrass has reached a critical stage.  Extensive outreach has resulted in media coverage and nearly unanimous consensus that the time for action is now.  Even with this heightened awareness, the heroic efforts of a few volunteers, and growing public agency engagement, control activities have yet to keep pace with buffelgrass spread.  Because this spread is exponential—populations of this grass and the costs of controlling it may be doubling every year—time is of the essence.  Collaborative and decisive action is needed now. 

History

Biology

Identification

Identifying Buffelgrass

The Buffelgrass Class Video: A Tutorial for Identification and Removal of Buffelgrass

Buffelgrass Photos

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions and Answers