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Summary
Duration	Perennial
Growth Habit	Graminoid
U.S. Nativity	Native to U.S.
Federal T/E Status
National Wetland Indicator	FACU*
Morphology/Physiology
Active Growth Period	Spring
After Harvest Regrowth Rate	Moderate
Bloat	None
C:N Ratio	Medium
Coppice Potential	No
Fall Conspicuous	No
Fire Resistant	No
Flower Color	Yellow
Flower Conspicuous	No
Foliage Color	Gray-Green
Foliage Porosity Summer	Porous
Foliage Porosity Winter	Porous
Foliage Texture	Fine
Fruit/Seed Color	Brown
Fruit/Seed Conspicuous	No
Growth Form	Bunch
Growth Rate	Moderate
Height at 20 Years, Maximum (feet)
Height, Mature (feet)	2
Known Allelopath	No
Leaf Retention	No
Lifespan	Long
Low Growing Grass	No
Nitrogen Fixation
Resprout Ability	No
Shape and Orientation	Erect
Toxicity	None
Growth Requirements
Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils	Yes
Adapted to Fine Textured Soils	Yes
Adapted to Medium Textured Soils	Yes
Anaerobic Tolerance	Low
CaCO3 Tolerance	High
Cold Stratification Required	No
Drought Tolerance	Low
Fertility Requirement	Low
Fire Tolerance	Medium
Frost Free Days, Minimum	130
Hedge Tolerance	None
Moisture Use	Medium
pH, Minimum	5.6
pH, Maximum	8.4
Planting Density per Acre, Minimum
Planting Density per Acre, Maximum
Precipitation, Minimum	12
Precipitation, Maximum	20
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)	14
Salinity Tolerance	None
Shade Tolerance	Intermediate
Temperature, Minimum (°F)	-38
Reproduction
Bloom Period	Early Summer
Commercial Availability	Contracting Only
Fruit/Seed Abundance	High
Fruit/Seed Period Begin	Summer
Fruit/Seed Period End	Fall
Fruit/Seed Persistence	No
Propagated by Bare Root	No
Propagated by Bulb	No
Propagated by Container	No
Propagated by Corm	No
Propagated by Cuttings	No
Propagated by Seed	Yes
Propagated by Sod	No
Propagated by Sprigs	No
Propagated by Tubers	No
Seed per Pound	450000
Seed Spread Rate	Slow
Seedling Vigor	Low
Small Grain	No
Vegetative Spread Rate	None
Suitability/Use
Berry/Nut/Seed Product	No
Christmas Tree Product	No
Fodder Product	Yes
Fuelwood Product	None
Lumber Product	No
Naval Store Product	No
Nursery Stock Product	No
Palatable Browse Animal	Medium
Palatable Graze Animal	Medium
Palatable Human	No
Post Product	No
Protein Potential	Medium
Pulpwood Product	No
Veneer Product	No

 

Kingdom  Plantae -- Plants

Subkingdom  Tracheobionta -- Vascular plants

Superdivision  Spermatophyta -- Seed plants

Division  Magnoliophyta -- Flowering plants

Class  Liliopsida -- Monocotyledons

Subclass  Commelinidae

Order  Cyperales

Family  Poaceae -- Grass family

Genus  Festuca L. -- fescue P

Species  Festuca idahoensis Elmer -- Idaho fescue P

 

Alternate Names

Bluebunch fescue

 

Uses

Grazing/rangeland/wildlife: Idaho fescue is a fair to good forage for all types of domestic livestock (Stubbendieck, J. et al., 1992).  It is good year-around forage for elk and is grazed in spring by deer. Idaho fescue begins senescence later in the growing season than most other range plants. Therefore, it is particularly useful for late season grazing.  The “Range Plant Handbook” prepared by the USDA, Forest Service includes a lengthy discussion on Idaho fescue use as rangeland forage (USDA, Forest Service,1988).  We reprint this discussion below.

 

“Idaho fescue is abundant and sometimes the dominant plant on extensive areas. It usually ranks with the choicest forage plants, and in

Montana and possible elsewhere is, everything considered, probably the best forage grass.  However, it may not quite merit first rank in palpability in some sections.  It produces a fair amount of seed of comparatively high viability and maintains itself well on the range if given a reasonable opportunity.  Idaho fescue excels many of its associated forage species in ability to withstand heavy grazing and trampling, although it will succumb to continued grazing abuse.  All classes of livestock relish it in the spring, as well as later in the season where it grows on north slopes or in cooler, moister sites and where the herbage remains tender.  Under such conditions it is often grazed more closely than other associated grasses.  As the season advances, the plants tend to become somewhat tough and harsh, and less succulent, with a proportionate decrease in palatability for sheep, especially ewes and lambs; to some extent this is true for horses and cattle also.  However, if more inviting forage is not available, livestock will graze this species throughout the season and thrive.  Moreover, the plant cures well on the ground and makes a good or very good fall forage, being readily grazed by all classes of livestock until late in the season, while it also produces a good aftermath, which is much relished.  When accessible it is also a good forage for winter use.”

 

Borman et al., (1991) compared eleven perennial grasses for their ability to suppress growth of resident annuals in southwest Oregon.  Both Idaho fescue and ‘Berber’ orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata), which begin growth early in the spring, suppressed annuals more effectively that grasses which initiate growth later in the spring.  The grasses in this study, that initiated growth later in the spring compared to Idaho fescue and Berber orchardgrass, are California oatgrass (Danthonia californica ‘Berber’), prairie junegrass (Koeleria macrantha), tall wheatgrass (Thinopyrum elongatum), intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum. intermedium ‘ Oahe’), tall fescue (Lolium arundinacea), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), Rush intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum. intermedium ‘Rush’), and orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata ‘ Paiute’).  The authors suggest that, for reseeding in the southern Oregon foothills, land managers should select grass species, which initiate the earliest spring growth, and maintain some growth though out the winter.

 

Moderate continuous grazing (33% current herbage used) did not reduce vigor of Idaho fescue in a 5-year grazing study (Ratliff and Reppert (1974).  However, they further reported that continuous grazing unduly subjects the plants to heavy pressure during dry years.  Jacobs and Sheley (1996) compared several Idaho fescue defoliation frequencies and defoliation levels (percents of aboveground biomass removed) for the ability of Idaho fescue to interfere with spotted knapweed (Centaurea maculosa Lam.) emergence and growth. As the Idaho fescue defoliation frequency and defoliation level decreased spotted knapweed emergence and growth also decreased.  The authors suggest that moderate grazing intensity and infrequent grazing will minimize spotted knapweed invasions by maximizing soil water use by Idaho fescue.

 

Idaho fescue produces an extensive, deep root system.  Therefore, it is an excellent erosion control grass for cutover forest areas (Hafenrichter et al., 1968).  Plants that develop root-mycorrhizal associations are more tolerant of adverse soil conditions.  Ho (1987) identified mycorrhizal Idaho fescue plants growing in an alkali dry lake bed.  This alkaline environment (pH 9.2 to 10.5) is not a typical Idaho fescue habitat.  Mycorrhiza innoculation may hold promise for increasing the vigor and range of adaptation of Idaho fescue.

 

Erosion control/reclamation: Idaho fescue is fairly drought resistant, stands are persistent and it is adapted to stabilization of disturbed soils.  It does not compete well with aggressive introduced grasses.  Its drought tolerance, combined with extensive root systems and good seedling vigor, make this species ideal for reclamation in areas receiving 14 to 20 inches annual precipitation. 

 

Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status, such as, state noxious status and wetland indicator values.

 

Description

Idaho fescue is a native, perennial, cool-season grass.  Idaho fescue culms are erect, 0.3 to 1.0 m tall, glabrous and glaucous, sparsely leaved with most leaves basal.  The fine narrow leaves usually have a bluish green to green color.  The leaf sheaths are flattened, keeled, either glabrous or scabrous; the basal sheaths are short, open and wider than the blade. The sheath collars are indistinct and the auricles are either small or absent.  The blades are involute, 5 to 25 cm long, filiform, firm, elongate, scabrous, often glaucous, glabrous abaxially and pubescent adaxially.  The ligule has a ciliate membrane, less than 2 mm long, and is truncate.  The inflorescence is a panicle, 7 to 15 cm long, narrow, dense, with branches ascending and lower branches spreading.  The spikelets are 4 to 7 flowered, 8 to 14 mm long, with rachilla joints visible; the lemma is 5 to 7 mm long, somewhat laterally compressed at maturity, and scabrous to glabrous.  The lemma is awned from the tip, 2 to 5 mm long, and straight. The glumes are unequal, lanceolate and acute; the first glume is 1-nerved, 3 to 5 mm long; and the second glume faintly 5-nerved, 4 to 4.5 mm long.  Idaho fescue begins growth early in the spring and its seeds mature by midsummer. It reproduces from both seeds and tillers.

 

Distribution

The range of Idaho fescue extends to California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.  Idaho fescue is one of the most common and widely distributed grasses in the Western States.  However, it is either rare or absent in the southern portions of the western states. For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

 

Adaptation

Idaho fescue occupies very diversified habitats.  Collections show altitudinal variation in Idaho fescue habitat extending from 300 m to 4,000 m ( 984 ft. to 13,120 ft.).  Although it may be found at any elevation between these extremes, it is most prevalent from about 1,524 to 2439 m (5,000 to 8,000 ft.) in Montana, from 2,341 to 3049 m (7,000 to 10,000 ft.) in Utah and Colorado, and form 915 to 2,341 m (3,000 to 7,000 ft.) in California and the Northwest. 

 

It grows on all exposures and under a wide variety of soil conditions.  It prefers silt loam or sandy loam soils and is occasionally found on loamy sand soils.  Exposed benchlands, hillsides and ridges, parks, meadows, forestlands, and open ponderosa and lodgepole pine stands are common habitats. Idaho fescue is tolerant of weakly saline, weakly alkaline and acidic soil conditions.

 

It has excellent cold tolerance, moderate drought tolerance, and moderate shade tolerance.  It is not as drought tolerant as sheep fescue and its drought tolerance is similar to that of hard fescue.  It is fairly tolerant of fire in autumn, but requires 2 to 3 years to fully recover after burning.  It is not tolerant of high water tables or flooding.  Its frequent associates include bluegrass, mountain brome, geranium, yarrow, mountain sagebrush, antelope bitterbrush, ponderosa pine, bluebunch wheatgrass and slender wheatgrass.  In the mountains of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming it seems to be replaced by bluebunch wheatgrass and needlegrass (Stipa, Hesperostipa, Nassella) as moisture decreases or overgrazing increases.

 

Establishment

Natural establishment: Idaho fescue produces a fair amount of seed of comparatively high viability and maintains itself well on the range if given a reasonable opportunity (USDA, Forest Service, 1988).

 

Planting: One PLS pound of Idaho fescue seed contains approximately 425,000 to 460,000 seeds and a broadcast planting of one pound of Idaho fescue seed results in a seeding distribution of approximately 10.1 seeds per square foot (USDA, NRCS, 1996).  The recommended pure stand seeding rate is 3 to 4 (PLS) pounds per acre for range seedings.  Planting 6 to 8 pounds per acre will provide dense cover for erosion control (Ensign et al. 1984).  Idaho fescue is normally recommended as component, in seeding mixtures, with other native species.

 

Idaho fescue seed is not highly germinable compared to alternative forage or competing weeds (Evans and Young, 1972).  Cold temperature (2C constant) germination 18%, pales in comparison to cheatgrass, which had 76% germination under the same conditions (Evans and Young 1972, Young et al. 1981).  Proper weed control coupled with good seedbed preparation is needed to achieve dense stands of Idaho fescue. 

 

Idaho fescue initiates growth in March through April and matures in mid to late summer.  With adequate moisture, Idaho will produce a moderate amount of re-growth following seed maturity.  Late fall plantings are most successful.  Plant early in the spring if fall planting is not possible.  Seeded stands require 2 to 3 years to establish, but are very competitive once established. Recommended planting depth is 0.25 to 0.50 inches in fine to medium textured soil and no more than 0.75 inches in course textured soil.  Conduct a soil analysis before planting; if the soil test indicates less than 6 ppm of phosphorus, and then apply 60 pounds per acre of P₂O₅ (Ensign et al. 1984).  Idaho fescue does not require or respond to heavy nitrogen applications.

 

Management

Idaho fescue is susceptible to overgrazing.  Idaho fescue should be left un-grazed by livestock through the growing season every 3 to 4 years.  This will promote vigor and seed production and encourage the development of a strong root system, which is beneficial in reducing soil erosion and weed competition.  Also, deferred grazing during the growing season supplies dry forage for autumn and winter use. 

 

At least 50%, by weight of Idaho fescue annual growth should remain following grazing, or a stubble height of about 2 to 3 inches. 

 

Following fire, protect Idaho fescue from grazing for two full growing seasons.  An additional year's deferment may be needed to achieve full plant recovery, and to re-establish a suitable stubble height because palatability increases significantly following fire.  A less palatable residue is desirable to prevent livestock for grazing too closely.

 

Pests

Primary pests of Idaho fescue are grasshoppers, rodents and fungi that produce damping-off diseases of seedlings.

 

Seed Production

Commercial seed production fields of Idaho fescue usually yield no seed the first (establishment) year, a limited amount of seed the second year, a large amount of seed the third year, and either a low or adequate amount of seed the fourth year (personal communication with Grasslands West Company, Clarkston, Washington, U.S.A.). 

 

For seed production, plant Idaho fescue seed in early autumn in a firm, weed free, fertile soil at a depth of 0.25 inches.  Row spacing of 30 to 36 inches is recommended to facilitate weed control and rouging of off-types.  Plant 4 PLS (pure live seed) pounds of seed per acre for these row plantings (Ensign et al. 1984).

 

Cultivars, Improved and Selected Materials (and area of origin)

Foundation and registered seed is available through the appropriate state Crop Improvement Association or commercial sources to grow certified seed.

 

Idaho fescue characteristically has poor seed production and weak seedling vigor (Hafenrichter et al. 1968).  Therefore, the University of Idaho initiated a breeding program in 1950 to produce Idaho fescue cultivars with improved seed set, larger seed size (seedling vigor), and improved germination percentage.

 

The University of Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station developed two Idaho fescue cultivars ‘Joseph’ and 'Nezpurs' (Ensing, 1984).  The experiment station released both cultivars for certification in 1983.  Both Joseph and Nezpurs are synthetic cultivars selected through three cycles of phenotypic recurrent selection.  The base population used for recurrent selection consisted of seed derived from inter-crossing 89 native ecotypes collected from northwestern states of the U.S. and Canada.  Joseph is a 13-clone synthetic cultivar.  Joseph exhibited 18% better seed set, 37% larger seeds, 14% better germination compared to the original native ecotype collection.  “It has uniform, robust plants ranging from 72 to 80 cm in height.  Joseph is 12 to 18 cm taller than ‘Covar’ sheep fescue (Festuca ovina L.) and approximately equal in height to ‘Durar’ hard fescue (Festuca ovina var. duriuscula) (Table 1).  The culms are erect with basal growth and 46% more forage production than Covar or Durar.  Seed production of Joseph is 30% more than Covar, but 40% less than Durar” (Ensing, 1984).

 

‘Nezpurs’ is a 90-clone synthetic cultivar.  ‘Nezpurs’ exhibited 30% more seed set, 29% larger seed size, and 11% better germination than the original collections. Nezpurs is more variable than ’Joseph’.

 

Both cultivars are adapted to Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Montana and Colorado rangeland and open forestland with elevation between 300 and 2700 m (984 to 8856 ft.) and annual precipitation between 35 and 76 cm (13.8 to 29.9 in).

 

‘Winchester germplasm’ is a source-identified release that was made by Jerry Benson (Benson Farms Inc.).  It originates from near Winchester, Idaho (approx. elev. 4000’, ~18” MAP).  It is identical to P-6435, an accession collected and evaluated by the Pullman PMC.  ‘Winchester germplasm’ displays a fairly high degree of phenotypic variability because no effort was made to refine the germplasm by removing off-types.  It is well suited for plantings that require raw germplasm.

 

Sources

Seed of ‘Joseph’ Idaho fescue is produced and sold by Grasslands West, Clarkston, Washington, U.S.A 

 

Seed of ‘Nezpurs’ Idaho fescue is produced by David R. Mosman Ranch Inc., Mosman Road, Rt. 2 Box 43, Craigmont, Idaho, USA, (208) 937-2552.

 

Seed of ‘Winchester germplasm’ Idaho fescue is produced and sold by Benson Farms Inc., 1145 Jefferson Ave, Moses Lake, WA, USA,

(509) 756-6348

 

References

Borman, M.M., W.C. Krueger, and D.E. Johnson. 1991. Effects of established perennial grasses on yields of associated weeds.  J. Range Manage. 44:318-322.

 

Ensign, R.D. 1984. Registration of Joseph and Nezpurs Idaho Fescue.  Crop Sci. 24:617-618.

 

Ensign, R.D., V.G. Hickey, & T.J. Bakken 1984. Joseph and Nezpurs Idaho fescue: forage grasses for the Intermountain Northwest.  Cooperative Extension Service, Current Information Series No. 736, University of Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station, Moscow.

 

Evans, R.A. and J.A. Young 1972.  Microsite requirements for establishment of annual rangeland weeds.  Weed Sci. 20:350-356.

 

Hafenrichter, A.L., J.L. Schwendiman, H.L. Harris, R.S. MacLanchlan, & H.W. Miller 1968.  Grasses and legumes for soil conservation in the Pacific Northwest and Great Basin States.  USDA Handbook No. 339, Washington, D.C.

 

Ho, I. 1987.  Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae of halophytic grasses in the Alvord Desert of Oregon. Northwest Sci. 61-148-151.

 

Jacobs, J.S. & R.L. Sheley 1997.  Relationships among Idaho fescue defoliation, soil water, and spotted knapweed emergence and growth.  J. Range Manage. 50:258-262.

 

Ratliff, R.D. & J.N. Reppert 1974.  Vigor of Idaho fescue grazed under rest-rotation and continuous grazing.  J. Range Manage. 27:447-449.

 

Stubbendieck, J., S.L. Hatch, & C.H. Butterfield 1992.  North American range plants.  University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, Nebraska.

 

USDA, Forest Service. 1988. Range plant handbook. Dover Publications Inc., New York.

 

USDA, NRCS, 1996.  A vegetative guide to selected native grasses of California. Technical note PM-40, NRCS California State Office, Davis, California.

 

Young, J.A., R.A. Evans, R.E. Eckert, & R.D. Ensign 1981.  Germination-temperature profiles for Idaho and sheep fescue and Canby bluegrass.  Agron. J. 73:716-720.

 

Prepared By

Dan Ogle, Plant Materials Specialist, USDA, NRCS,  Boise, Idaho

 

James Henson, USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

 

Mark Stannard, Team Leader, USDA, NRCS, Plant Materials Center, Pullman, Washington

 

Species Coordinator

Mark Stannard, Team Leader, USDA, NRCS, Plant Materials Center, Pullman, Washington

 

Edited 05dec00 jsp; 26june02 dgo; 02july02 ms;30jan03ahv; 09jun03 ahv; 25may06jsp

 

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS Web site<https://plants.usda.gov> or the Plant Materials Program Web site <https://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov>

 

Festuca idahoensis Elmer ssp. roemeri (Pavlick) S. Aiken
Roemer's fescue

 

Kingdom  Plantae -- Plants

Subkingdom  Tracheobionta -- Vascular plants

Superdivision  Spermatophyta -- Seed plants

Division  Magnoliophyta -- Flowering plants

Class  Liliopsida -- Monocotyledons

Subclass  Commelinidae

Order  Cyperales

Family  Poaceae -- Grass family

Genus  Festuca L. -- fescue P

Species  Festuca idahoensis Elmer -- Idaho fescue P

Subspecies  Festuca idahoensis Elmer ssp. roemeri (Pavlick) S. Aiken -- Roemer's fescue P

 

SYNONYM INFORMATION

 

Alternate names:  Also known as Festuca idahoensis Elmer ssp. roemeri (Pavlic) S. Aiken.  Other names include Festuca idahoensis var. roemeri, Festuca roemeri var. roemeri or northern Roemer’s fescue, and Festuca roemeri var. klamathensis or southern Roemer’s fescue.

 

Uses:  Roemer’s fescue is an important native grass for restoration of upland prairie and oak savanna within its natural range of western Oregon, western Washington, and northwest California.  While uncommon or even rare due to habitat loss, it is still dominant in some remnant prairies.  Typically found on steep, shallow, or highly mineral soils, it may also be useful for revegetation and erosion control where a slower establishing, fine textured native grass is desired.  Although Roemer’s fescue does not compete well with introduced grasses, it is drought tolerant and its non-aggressive growth habit suggests compatibility with forbs.  Other possible uses are low maintenance lawns or as a cover crop in vineyards and young orchards, although further evaluation is needed.  Some populations and specimens have ornamental value, including those with fine textured, purple and red tinged stems or bluish foliage.  Forage value and palatability for wildlife and livestock are unknown, but may be similar to Idaho fescue (F. idahoensis).  As a range grass, Idaho fescue is rated as fair to good forage.

 

Description: Roemer’s fescue is a native cool season perennial bunchgrass with variable longevity and mostly basal foliage.  It is short, fine textured, and densely tufted, and has stiff culms that grow 35-100 cm tall.  The panicle (seed head) is open and 5-20 cm long. Leaves are often glaucous (covered with a whitish waxy coating) and color varies throughout a wide spectrum of greens and blues.  Stem color ranges from light green to dark purple or red. 

 

Key to identification: Proper identification takes experience.  Refer to "Fescues and Allies of Western Oregon" by B. Wilson (Institute for Applied Ecology, Corvallis, OR, 2002) for details with an excerpt as follows:  "The less blue individuals are easily confused with chewings red fescue (Festuca rubra var. commutata), which is widely naturalized.  When the two grow together, Roemer’s fescue lives in drier or less disturbed microhabitats.  It is very easily confused with sheep and hard fescues. Sterile individuals are indistinguishable or identifiable only by leaf anatomy. However, fertile F. roemeri has a much more open inflorescence and longer lemmas than any sheep or hard fescue. Occasionally confused with sterile Stipa lemmonii (Lemmon’s needlegrass), but Roemer’s fescue does not live on the xeric soils preferred by S. lemmonii."

 

Adaptation: Roemer’s fescue is a mid to late succession species in its natural habitat.  It prefers moderately acid to slightly alkaline, fine to medium textured mineral soils.  The species generally grows in full sun but will tolerate partial shade near forest edges and oaks.  While drought tolerant with extensive roots, it is found on somewhat more mesic (moist) sites such as the edges of grassy balds.  As an upland grass it requires good soil drainage and does not tolerate winter soil saturation or flooding.

 

Roemer’s fescue is only found west of the Cascade and northern Sierra Nevada Mountain Ranges.  Variety roemeri occurs from Douglas County and northeast Jackson County, Oregon, north to British Columbia and south along the Pacific coast to San Francisco.  The species occurs on moderately dry to moist prairies, savannas, meadows, and grassy openings within woods. Variety klamathensis occurs in similar habitats, but also on serpentine substrates (soils toxic to many plants due to high levels of magnesium and iron silicates and other minerals).  It is not found along the coast.  The species intergrades with Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis) in southwest Oregon.

 

Commercial availability: One or more populations are available for western Oregon.

 

Relative abundance in the wild: Roemer’s fescue is scarce from the Willamette Valley of Oregon north to British Columbia.  It is scattered to uncommon from Eugene, Oregon south to San Francisco.

 

Limitations or environmental concerns:  There is potential for poor seed fill in some populations, possibly from inbreeding depression or other factors.  It is susceptible to stem and leaf rust which can severely weaken plants in some years.  Misidentification between Roemer’s fescue and introduced red fescue (Festuca rubra) may lead to contamination of seed fields and restoration sites.

 

Establishment: Seeds germinate without treatment. However, germination is quicker and more uniform after 14 days of cold, moist stratification (chilling). There are approximately 500,000 seeds/lb with hulls intact.  A seeding rate of 1 lb/ac results in about 12 seeds/sq. ft.  Sown alone, recommended rates vary from 4 to 20 pure live seed (PLS) lbs/ac depending on goals. Fall seeding is generally preferred but not required. Rate of establishment from seed is moderately slow.  Spring sown plants do not flower until the second full growing season.  This species is presumed to be well adapted to fire as a natural feature of prairie ecosystems.  It may possess management requirements similar to Idaho fescue such as deferred grazing every few years, but verification is needed.

 

Prepared By:

Dale Darris, Sonja Johnson, and Amy Bartow. USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

 

Species Coordinator:

Dale Darris, USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

 

Edited 7/31/07 D. Darris; 070801 jsp

 

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS Web site<https://plants.usda.gov> or the Plant Materials Program Web site <https://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov>

 

 

 

Attribution:  U.S. Department of Agriculture