Plant phenology, which can directly reflect the impact of climate change,has become the focus of global change research. In recent decades,typical grasslands have experienced significant warming,and scientists have realized that a remarkable variation in typical grassland vegetation of the Inner Mongolia Plateau may be a potential result of climate change. In the paper, the growth period,of natural herbage was observed from 1983 to 2012 at three stations in the central typical steppe of the Inner Mongolia Plateau, and the change trend of the representative grass of typical steppe for 32 years in stage of turning green,blossom and withered and yellow were analyzed. Additionally, the relationships between temperature or precipitation and the the growth period for main herbages were investigated using the stepwise regression and partial correlation analysis. The results showed that there were significant geographical differences in the growth period of natural herbage between northern, central, and southern portions of the study area. The trend in the growing season become short in the northern area and extended in the southern area. Specifically, the date of turning green was delayed in the Xinlinhaote (P<0.01),but the blossoming date was in advance (P<0.05). The date of yellow withered was in weak advance (P<0.01). In the central region of xianghuangqi, there was a weak delayed trend of turning green, a significant advanced trend of yellow withered period (P<0.01),and an insignificant trend of flowering. The date of turning green was a significant advance trend (P<0.01),but no significant trend in other growth stages in the Chayouhouqi. The turning green dates of grasses are strongly related to air temperatures in March and April with positive correlation in the typical grassland of the Inner Mongolia Plateau, while warming air temperatures in March and April lead a delay turning green of growth in grasses. Temperature is an important indicator that influences the blossoming dates, but precipitation is strongly negatively correlation with the blossoming dates of Cleistogene sauarrosa in the Xianghuangqi. Moreover, the trend of withering dates is mainly dominated by temperature in the northern of typical grassland, but withering dates are independent of temperature and precipitation in the Chayouhouqi.