NativeSeed Group Inventory

Cool season, tall, native perennial grasslike. Grows in dense clumps. Widely distributed across the northern latitudes of the U.S. Adapted to seasonally flooded wetlands, marsh edges and sites with still or slow moving water, usually in full sun. Excellent seed producer; floating seeds are a visible food source for waterfowl. Useful in habitat restoration, wetland projects and detention basins.

• Growing Region:  North America
• Blooms: 
• Life Form:  Grass

• Application Type:  Agricultural Conservation, Habitat Restoration
• Height:  1-3 ft

Formerly Elymus cinereus. Robust and very tall (4-8 ft.), Cool season, perennial bunchgrass. Very drought tolerant but also withstands periodic flooding. Occurs from dry sage communities to wet meadows, up to 9,800 ft. elevation. Deep fibrous root system helps it thrive on sub-irrigated sites. Alkaline and saline tolerant. Excellent soil binder. Provides outstanding wind cover, nesting habitat and winter feed for herbivores and wildlife above snow level.

• Growing Region:  Pacific Northwest
• Blooms: 
• Life Form:  Grass

• Application Type:  Habitat Restoration, Land Reclamation
• Height:  4+ ft

Formerly Agropyron spicatum. Cool season, drought tolerant, long-lived perennial bunchgrass widely distributed and adapted to most sites including thin, non-productive soils. Extensive root system. Establishes quickly on a wide variety of soil textures, from rocky sites to clays. Intolerant of poor drainage and high water tables. Some tolerance to salinity. Cold hardy. Often a major component of native plant communities within its range. Generally good palatability to livestock and wildlife late into summer and fall. Stressed by overgrazing and repeated early season grazing. Preferred feed for elk, deer and antelope at peak times. Use for arid rangelands, erosion control and native habitat restoration.

• Growing Region:  Midwest, Southeast
• Blooms: 
• Life Form:  Grass

• Application Type:  Agricultural Conservation, Erosion Control, Habitat Restoration, Land Reclamation
• Height:  1-2 ft

Cool season, long-lived, perennial sod-former adapted to wet or periodically wet soils such as meadows, waterways and ranges in the subalpine zone. Strongly rhizomatous. Withstands periodic flooding for up to 45 days. High forage producer compared to other grasses adapted to wet soils. More productive than Meadow foxtail (A. pratensis). Tolerates acidic and saline soils and is palatable and nutritious. Frequently used as pasture grass on wet meadows.

• Growing Region:  Pacific Northwest, Midwest
• Blooms: 
• Life Form:  Grass

• Application Type:  Agricultural Conservation, Erosion Control, Habitat Restoration, Land Reclamation
• Height:  1-2 ft

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.

• Growing Region:  California, Pacific Northwest
• Blooms: 
• Life Form:  Grass

• Application Type:  Habitat Restoration, Land Reclamation
• Height:  1-4 ft

Formerly Festuca longifolia. Densely tufted, Cool season, long-lived perennial bunchgrass with a massive fibrous, shallow root system. Adapted to a wide range of soil conditions except for standing wet or strongly alkaline sites. Establishment is slow but persistent with mature stands being competitive. Good palatability to livestock and excellent for wildlife. Different varieties for either erosion control or turfgrass. (See Turfgrass section.)

• Growing Region:  Midwest, Pacific Northwest
• Blooms: 
• Life Form:  Grass

• Application Type:  Agricultural Conservation, Commercial Beautification, Erosion Control, Land Reclamation, Turf
• Height:  1-4 ft

Formerly Bromopsis biebersteinii. Cool season, perennial open sod-former with short rhizomes. Adapted to most sites where water is adequate but performs best on moderately deep, well-drained moist soils. Long-lived and very winter hardy. Primarily used as a pasture component in grass and grass-legume mixtures. Spring green-up is 2-3 weeks earlier than other common pasture grasses. Excellent year-round forage. Use in dryland pastures in areas receiving greater than 14 in. of annual precipitation. Varieties:  

• Growing Region:  Intermountain West, Southwest
• Blooms: 
• Life Form:  Grass

• Application Type:  Agricultural Conservation, Erosion Control, Land Reclamation
• Height:  1-4 ft

Pubescent Wheatgrass is a long-lived, Cool-season perennial grass. It is a sod-former and spread by underground roots.AREA OF ADAPTATION: It is adapted to and used in the same areas as Intermediate Wheatgrass. It is slightly more drought, heat, and salt tolerant than intermediate, but somewhat less palatable. It is considered to have better stand ratings and persistence in sagebrush and pinon-juniper areas.PLANTING: Drill seed no more than 1 inch deep at a rate of 7 to 11 PLS per acre. Planting dates depend on the climate of the area and would be the same as other Cool-season species in the area.PLANTING DATES: March - June

• Growing Region:  Midwest
• Blooms: 
• Life Form:  Grass

• Application Type:  Habitat Restoration, Land Reclamation
• Height:  4+ ft

Formerly Agropyron smithii. Cool season, strongly rhizomatous, long-lived perennial. Widely adapted; saline-tolerant and moderately drought tolerant. Tolerant of some flooding, heavy soils and cold. One of the best known and most common native grasses in North America, occurring in numerous types of native plant communities. May be replaced by Thickspike wheatgrass (Elymus lanceolatus ssp. lanceolatus) on coarser soils. Moderately palatable to livestock and wildlife.

• Growing Region:  Pacific Northwest
• Blooms: 
• Life Form:  Grass

• Application Type:  Habitat Restoration, Land Reclamation, Erosion Control
• Height:  1-2 ft