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California Guide to Grasses
About This Guide | Mixtures & Blends | Overseeding | Turfgrass Facts | Lawn & Turf
Parks & Cemeteries | Sportsfields | Pastures, Meadows & Hillsides
SOIL STABILIZATION & RANGELAND SEEDING
|
ITEM
|
COMMENTS
|
Zones
|
Seeding Rate
lbs./acre
|
Season
|
Type
|
Height (inches)
|
Forage Use
|
Drought Toler-
ance
|
Alkaline/
Salt Tolerance
|
Acid Toler-
ance
|
Soil Type
|
Fire Retar-
dant
|
Calif-
ornia Native
|
|
GRASSES
|
Alkaligrass
Puccinella distans |
Variety: Fults, often used for turf. |
1,2,4
|
120
|
Cool
|
Bunch
|
12-24
|
P
|
F
|
E
|
F
|
ALL
|
. |
.
|
Barley
Hordeum vulgare |
Winter annual. Cereal grain. Grows fast. Does not reseed. |
1,2
|
150
|
Cool
|
Bunch
|
30+
|
P
|
F
|
G
|
F
|
S
|
. |
.
|
Barley, Meadow
Hordeum brachyantherum |
Fast Growing. Ideal nurse crop for long-lived native grasses. Short-lived. |
1,2,4,5
|
25
|
Cool
|
Bunch
|
12-18
|
F
|
F
|
E
|
F
|
ALL
|
. |
•
|
Blue Gramma
Bouteloua gracilis |
Ornamental densely tufted, stoloniferous. Long-lived. |
ALL
|
30
|
Warm
|
Bunch
|
6-24
|
F
|
E
|
G
|
F
|
ALL
|
. |
•
|
Bluegrass, Big
Poa ampla |
Variety: Rubens, high elevati.on, low fertility |
1,2,5
|
30
|
Cool
|
Bunch
|
24
|
G
|
G
|
P
|
F
|
S
|
. |
.
|
Bluegrass, Canada
Poa compressa |
Shade tolerant, low growing. Roadsides, recreation areas. |
4,5
|
80
|
Cool
|
Sod
|
12-24
|
G
|
G
|
P
|
G
|
C
|
. |
.
|
Blue Wildrye
Elymus glaucus |
Fast growing, good for site stabilization. Adapted to shady, woodland, forest environments.
Short-lived. |
1,2,4,5
|
30
|
Cool
|
Bunch
|
12-40
|
F
|
G
|
F
|
F
|
ALL
|
. |
•
|
Buffalo Grass
Buchaloe dactyloides |
Best on clay soils, also used for turf. Native to Great Plains. |
1
|
30
|
Warm
|
Sod
|
1-12
|
P
|
G
|
G
|
F
|
C
|
. |
. |
Brome, Blando
Bromus mollis |
Quick erosion control, annual, reseeds, below 4000’ also called Soft Chess. |
1,2,4
|
50
|
Cool
|
Bunch
|
1-24
|
E
|
VG
|
F
|
F
|
ALL
|
. |
. |
Brome, Red
Bromus rubens |
Good for soil stabilization. Annual. Reseeds. |
1,2,4
|
20
|
Cool
|
Bunch
|
2-18
|
P
|
E
|
VG
|
F
|
ALL
|
. |
. |
Brome, Smooth
Bromis inermis |
Variety: Manchar, easy to establish, high elevation, good soil stabilizer. |
1,4,5
|
15
|
Cool
|
Sod
|
13-24
|
VG
|
VG
|
G
|
F
|
ALL
|
. |
. |
Fescue, California
Festuca californica |
Tall, ornamental. Tolerant of shape and serpintine soils. Long-lived. |
1,2,4,5
|
30
|
Cool
|
Bunch
|
24-36
|
F
|
G
|
G
|
G
|
ALL
|
. |
•
|
Fescue, California Red Native
Festuca rubra ‘molate’ |
Attractive fine bladed rhizomatous grass. Can be mown. Long-lived, California Native cultivar ‘Molate Blue’. |
1,2,4,5
|
30
|
Cool
|
Sod
|
12-24
|
F
|
VG
|
G
|
G
|
ALL
|
. |
•
|
Fescue, Idaho
Festuca idahoensis |
Ornamental, fine bladed. Summer dormant. Native to Western U.S. |
1,2,4,5
|
25
|
Cool
|
Bunch
|
12-18
|
F
|
VG
|
G
|
G
|
ALL
|
. |
•
|
Fescue, Hard
Festuca longifolia |
Varieties: Reliant, Atilla, Waldina. Hot areas require irrigation; fine texture, shade. |
1,2,4,5
|
150
|
Cool
|
Bunch
|
12-18
|
F
|
G
|
F
|
G
|
ALL
|
. |
. |
Fescue, Sheep
Festuca ovina |
Variety: Covar, MX-86, shade tolerant. Use as ground cover, or in wildflower mixtures. |
1,4,5
|
150
|
Cool
|
Bunch
|
12-18
|
G
|
G
|
FG
|
G
|
R,S
|
. |
. |
Fescue, Zorro (Foxtail)
Festuca megalura |
Native, annual, reseeds, adapted to much of arid California. Extensive root system. |
1,2
|
20
|
Cool
|
Bunch
|
6-24
|
G
|
E
|
VG
|
VG
|
ALL
|
. |
•
|
Fountain Grass
Pennisetum ruppelii |
Popular for non-irrigated highway use. Attractive plants. |
1,2,3
|
3
|
Warm
|
Bunch
|
12-48
|
P
|
VG
|
VG
|
F
|
ALL
|
. |
. |
Needlegrass, Purple
Nassella pulchra |
Fine bladed, tufted. Good on disturbed slopes. |
1,2,4,5
|
20
|
Cool
|
Bunch
|
12-24
|
P
|
VG
|
F
|
F
|
C
|
. |
•
|
Needlegrass, Desert
Achnatherum speciosum |
Densely tufted. Occurring in arid mountain slopes of southeast California. Long-lived. |
2,3,5
|
15
|
Cool
|
Bunch
|
12-24
|
P
|
E
|
F
|
F
|
ALL
|
. |
•
|
Orchardgrass
Dactylis glomerata |
Varieties: Paiute. Long-lived perennial. |
1,2,4,5
|
20
|
Cool
|
Bunch
|
24-36
|
E
|
VG
|
G
|
F
|
C
|
. |
. |
Purple Three-Awn
Aristida purpurea |
Ornamental, tufted bunchgrass with nodding reddish panicles. Easily established from seed. |
ALL
|
15
|
Warm
|
Bunch
|
12-24
|
P
|
E
|
F
|
F
|
ALL
|
. |
•
|
Reed Canarygrass
Phalaris arundinacea |
Best on poor drained soils, cool areas. Forage and erosion control. |
1,4,5
|
20
|
Cool
|
Sod
|
24-96
|
VG
|
P
|
F
|
VG
|
C
|
. |
. |
Sudan Grass
Sorghum vulgare |
Variety: Piper. Best for hay or pasture. |
2,3
|
20
|
Warm
|
Bunch
|
48+
|
VG
|
VG
|
F
|
F
|
ALL
|
. |
. |
Timothy
Pheleum pratense |
Cool, moist areas, shade tolerant, higher elevations. Does not tolerate drought or heat. |
4,5
|
80
|
Cool
|
Bunch
|
24-36
|
E
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
C
|
. |
. |
Weeping Lovegrass
Eragrostis curvula |
Establishes rapidly, short lived, lacks winter hardiness. |
1,2,4
|
25
|
Warm
|
Bunch
|
24-48
|
G
|
G
|
F
|
G
|
S
|
. |
. |
Wimmera Ryegrass
Lolium rigidum |
Reseeding annual, adapted to heavy soils. Earlier maturing. |
1,2,4
|
50
|
Cool
|
Bunch
|
25-30
|
F
|
F
|
F
|
F
|
C
|
. |
. |
Wheatgrass, Crested
Agropyron cristatum |
Varieties: Fairway, Nordan, also used for turf. Easily established. |
5
|
30
|
Cool
|
Bunch
|
13-24
|
G
|
E
|
F
|
F
|
ALL
|
. |
. |
Wheatgrass, Intermediate
Agropyron intermedium |
Variety: Tegmar, lower growing; Oahe, shade tolerant. |
5
|
15
|
Cool
|
Sod
|
15-30
|
G
|
VG
|
F
|
F
|
C
|
. |
. |
Wheatgrass, Pubescent
Agropyron trichophorum |
Varieties: Luna, Topar, similar to intermediate. Good erosion control. Late maturing. |
5
|
40
|
Cool
|
Sod
|
13-24
|
E
|
VG
|
F
|
F
|
C
|
. |
. |
Wheatgrass, Slender
Agropyron trachycaulum |
Tall, fast growing. Good for site stabilization, short-lived. |
1,2,4,5
|
–
|
Cool
|
Bunch
|
13-24
|
G
|
E
|
F
|
F
|
ALL
|
. |
•
|
Wheatgrass, Streambank
Agropyron riparium |
Shade tolerant, low growing. Roadsides, recreation areas. |
5
|
15
|
Cool
|
Sod
|
12-20
|
F
|
VG
|
G
|
F
|
C
|
. |
. |
Wheatgrass, Tall
Agropyron elongatum |
Abundant forage, poorly drained soils. |
1,4,5
|
20
|
Cool
|
Bunch
|
25-30
|
G
|
G
|
E
|
F
|
C
|
. |
.
|
|
LEGUMES
|
Alfalfa
Medicago sativa |
Hay pasture or erosion control, deep rooted. Easily established. |
1,2,4
|
20
|
Cool
|
N/A
|
13-25
|
E
|
G
|
G
|
P
|
ALL
|
. |
.
|
Birdsfoot Trefoil
Lotus corniculatus |
Wet & poorly drained sites, hay, pasture or erosion control. Long-lived, deep rooted, yellow flowers. |
1,2,4
|
10
|
Cool
|
N/A
|
12-18
|
G
|
F
|
P
|
G
|
C
|
•
|
.
|
Clover, Alsike
Trifolium hybridum |
Shade tolerant, cool, moist sites. |
1,4
|
20
|
Cool
|
N/A
|
12-18
|
G
|
F
|
F
|
P
|
C
|
. |
.
|
Clover, Crimson
Trifolium incarnatum |
Best along coast. Annual. Reseeds. |
1,4
|
25
|
Cool
|
N/A
|
12-30
|
VG
|
F
|
F
|
G
|
S,C
|
. |
.
|
Clover, Ladino
Trifolium repens latum |
Variety of white clover with thicker stems and stolons. Large growth form. |
1,2,4,5
|
25
|
Cool
|
N/A
|
12-18
|
VG
|
F
|
F
|
G
|
C
|
. |
.
|
Clover, Red
Trifolium pratense |
Cool, moist sites. |
1,4
|
15
|
Cool
|
N/A
|
20-25
|
E
|
G
|
P
|
P
|
C
|
. |
.
|
Clover Rose
Trifolium hirtum |
Variety: Hykon, will grow on very poor sites. Heavy reseeder, slow establishment. Dryland pasture. |
1,2
|
30
|
Cool
|
N/A
|
6-18
|
G
|
VG
|
G
|
G
|
ALL
|
. |
. |
Clover Strawberry
Trifolium fragiferum |
Variety: O’Connors, very popular in Southern California for erosion control. Short, creeping, easy to establish. |
1,2,4,5
|
15
|
Cool
|
N/A
|
6-12
|
G
|
F
|
VG
|
G
|
ALL
|
•
|
. |
Clover, Subterranean
Trifolium subterraneum |
Variety: Mt. Barker |
1,2,4
|
15
|
Cool
|
N/A
|
10-12
|
G
|
VG
|
G
|
VG
|
S
|
•
|
. |
Clover, White Dutch
Trifolium repens |
Shallow rooted, cool, moist sites. |
1,2,4,5
|
25
|
Cool
|
N/A
|
6-12
|
G
|
F
|
F
|
G
|
C
|
. |
. |
Clover, Yellow Sweet
Melilotus officinalis |
Aggressive, shade tolerant. |
1,2,4
|
20
|
Cool
|
N/A
|
20-36
|
F
|
G
|
G
|
F
|
ALL
|
•
|
. |
Vetch, Lana Woolypod
Vicia dasycarpa |
Irrigated or moist sites. Easily established. Self-seeding annual. |
1,2,4
|
60
|
Cool
|
N/A
|
12-20
|
VG
|
VG
|
G
|
G
|
ALL
|
. |
. |
Vetch, Purple
Vica benghalensis |
Best near coast, hay & pasture. |
1,2,4
|
60
|
Cool
|
N/A
|
18-24
|
G
|
G
|
F
|
F
|
C
|
. |
.
|
KEY: (E) = Excellent, (VG) = Very Good, (G) = Good, (F) = Fair, (P) = Poor, (C) = Clay, (S) = Sandy, (R) = Rocky
|
|
ZONE #
|
CLIMATE TYPE
|
|
1
2
3
4
5
|
Southern Coastal and Foothills
Interior Valley
Desert
Northern Coast and Foothills
Mountains
|
About This Guide | Mixtures & Blends | Overseeding | Turfgrass Facts | Lawn & Turf
Parks & Cemeteries | Sportsfields | Pastures, Meadows & Hillsides
|
|
|
|
|
|