Green needlegrass

Nassella viridula

Formerly Stipa viridula. Cool season, long-lived, drought tolerant perennial bunchgrass with an extensive fibrous and deep root system. Important native species from the Northern Great Plains to Arizona. Performs well on a wide variety of sites, thriving on medium and fine textured bottomland soils but also tolerant of coarser sites. Moderately palatable to livestock and wildlife year-round. Use for native pasture, rangeland or for prairie habitat restoration. Occasionally slow to germinate and establish. Seedlings are slow to develop, but mature plants are vigorous.