As the common name suggests, buffalo and other livestock once found this species a valuable source of forage. Settlers also made use of this plant, using its strong sod for making sod houses. Currently, its attractive, thick growth has made it a popular turfgrass. The genus name “Buchla” comes from the Greek words for “cow grass,” while the species name “dactyloid” means “finger-like” in reference to the plant's slender blades.