Publication Number 460-122, posted January 1997
Grasses available for seeding in mine revegetation, eastern U.S.
| Common Name (Scientific Name) | Principal Cultivars | Drought Resist- ance | Cold Toler- ance | Acid Toler- ance | Salt Toler- ance | High Water Toler. | Lower pH Limit | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis) | Numerous turf varieties | Poor | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | 5.5 | Shallow rooted sod-former. Good palatability |
| Smooth Brome (Bromus inermis) | Saratoga, Lincoln, others | Good | Good | Poor | Good | Fair | 5.0 | Forms dense sod. Good erosion control. |
| Deertongue (Panicum clandestinum) | Tioga | Good | Poor | Good | Fair | Fair | 4.0 | Acid tolerant, drought resistant. |
| Tall Fescue (Festuca arundinacea) | Kentucky31, Johnstone, Alta, Forager, Kenhy, Phyter, Athens | Good | Good | Good | Good | Fair | 4.5 | Most commonly seeded grass on mined areas. Drought resistant. |
| Weeping Lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula) | Morpa | Good | Fair | Good | Fair | Fair | 4.0 | Tolerant of acid minesoils and dry conditions. Short lived perennial. |
| Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata) | Pennlate, Hallmark, Potomac, others | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | 4.5 | Develops rapidly and long lived. Used in wildlife plantings |
| Redtop (Agrostis gigantea) | Common | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | 4 | Sod former. Adapts to a wide variety of soils. Short lived if not managed. |
| Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne) | Numerous cultivars | Poor | Good | Poor | Fair | Fair | 4.5 | Short lived perennial. Dominates stands for 2 years. |
| Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) | Cave-in-Rock, Blackwell, Kanlow | Good | Good | Good | Fair | Good | 4 | Rhizomatous, acid tolerant, tall. Slow to establish. |
| Timothy (Phleum pratense) | Bounty, Champlain, Clair, Timfor | Fair | Poor | Good | Good | Fair | 4.5 | Good quality hay and pasture. Does not tolerate heavy grazing. Fertility demanding. |
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