Understanding the Science Behind Riparian Forest Buffers: Planning, Establishment, and Maintenance

Author: Julia C. Klapproth, Faculty Assistant-Natural Resources, Maryland Cooperative Extension; James E. Johnson, Extension Forestry Specialist, College of Natural Resources, Virginia Tech

Publication Number 420-155, Posted October 2001

Table 6. Native warm-season grasses for riparian buffers.

Grass Suggested Varieties Height (feet) Where Found Soil Preference Flood Tolerance Drought Tolerance Wildlife Value

Big bluestem Notes: Valuable forage as pasture and hay; valuable in ornamental plantings and xeriscapes Niagara 6' - 8', roots to 8' Moist meadows, river banks Loamy soils, moderate drainage or better. Grows well on acid, droughty, low fertility sites Fair Good Good

Coastal panicgrass Notes: Good for sand dune stabilization, reclaimed minelands and wind barriers Atlantic 3' - 6', roots 6'+ Sandy shores, alluvium, banks Sand to loam Good Good Food for rabbit, muskrat, deer, wild turkey, ducks, geese

Eastern gamagrass Notes: Most productive, nutritious grass for producing livestock forage warm-season Pete 8' Open fields, swamps, wet shores Moderately well drained to poorly drained soils Very good

Indiangrass Notes: Ornamental value; good for erosion control on droughty sites Rumsey 3' - 8' Moist or dry fields, roadsides Wide range of soil types Prefers deep, well-drained floodplain soils Poor Good Food and cover

Little bluestem Notes: Occurs throughout Virginia; low maintenance cover highly recommended for droughty sites Aldous, Camper, Blaze 1.5' - 3', roots to 7' Roadsides, open woods Sand to loam; does well on droughty sites Poor Good Good

Switchgrass Notes: Long-lived; useful as forage and wind barrier; under study for use as energy biomass Alamo, Kanlow, Cave-in-Rock 3' - 8', roots to 12' Sandy shores, alluvium, banks Loam to sand, well adapted to a variety of soil types Good Good Food for rabbit, muskrat, deer, wild turkey, ducks, geese; excellent spring nesting habitat

Grass	Suggested Varieties	Height (feet)	Where Found	Soil Preference	Flood Tolerance	Drought Tolerance	Wildlife Value
Big bluestem Notes: Valuable forage as pasture and hay; valuable in ornamental plantings and xeriscapes	Niagara	6' - 8', roots to 8'	Moist meadows, river banks	Loamy soils, moderate drainage or better. Grows well on acid, droughty, low fertility sites	Fair	Good	Good
Coastal panicgrass Notes: Good for sand dune stabilization, reclaimed minelands and wind barriers	Atlantic	3' - 6', roots 6'+	Sandy shores, alluvium, banks	Sand to loam	Good	Good	Food for rabbit, muskrat, deer, wild turkey, ducks, geese
Eastern gamagrass Notes: Most productive, nutritious grass for producing livestock forage warm-season	Pete	8'	Open fields, swamps, wet shores	Moderately well drained to poorly drained soils	Very good
Indiangrass Notes: Ornamental value; good for erosion control on droughty sites	Rumsey	3' - 8'	Moist or dry fields, roadsides	Wide range of soil types Prefers deep, well-drained floodplain soils	Poor	Good	Food and cover
Little bluestem Notes: Occurs throughout Virginia; low maintenance cover highly recommended for droughty sites	Aldous, Camper, Blaze	1.5' - 3', roots to 7'	Roadsides, open woods	Sand to loam; does well on droughty sites	Poor	Good	Good
Switchgrass Notes: Long-lived; useful as forage and wind barrier; under study for use as energy biomass	Alamo, Kanlow, Cave-in-Rock	3' - 8', roots to 12'	Sandy shores, alluvium, banks	Loam to sand, well adapted to a variety of soil types	Good	Good	Food for rabbit, muskrat, deer, wild turkey, ducks, geese; excellent spring nesting habitat

From: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. 1997. Grasses that can be used for planting in riparian forest buffers and herbaceous buffers. USDA-NRCS Conservation Plant Sheets for the Northeast. USDA-NRCS, Annapolis, MD.

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. 1996. National Engineering Handbook, Part 650 -- Engineering Field Handbook Chapter 16 -- Streamline and Shoreline Protection. USDA NRCS, Washington, DC.

Return to Understanding the Science Behind Riparian Forest Buffers: Planning, Establishment, and Maintenance