Warm-Season Grasses: Species and Varieties
Switchgrass
This is a tall bunch grass that tolerates poorly drained soils, flooding, and perched water tables better than other warm-season grasses. Its primary growth is in midsummer and it can be used to complement a cool-season grass forage program by providing additional forage in the summer (Figure 1.8-1).
Cave-in-Rock
This highly productive variety heads by early to midsummer.
Blackwell
Blackwell is a widely adapted variety that is fine stemmed and heads by early to midsummer. It is shorter lived than Cave-in-Rock.
Big Bluestem
Big bluestem is a tall bunch grass that is more drought tolerant than other tall warm-season grasses and thus is better adapted to excessively drained soils with low water-holding capacity. Its primary growth is in midsummer and it can be used to complement a cool-season grass forage program by providing additional forage in summer (Figure 1.8-1).
Niagara
A variety especially adapted to north- east conditions. Forage quality is good. It is tolerant to leaf spot and matures early in the summer season.
