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Penn State develops bluestem ecotype

By |  March 16, 2017 0 Comments

Every superintendent has roughs and far roughs where maintenance is an expense yet aesthetics need to be acceptable.

Penn State demonstrated its latest bluestem line this past summer. Given that bluestem is a native grass with proven ability to persist, it might just be the answer for planting in low-maintenance areas.

The Pennsylvania ecotype of little bluestem grows only to two or three feet height. It has 10 inch roots. The line is quite drought tolerant. It is pretty, too. It blooms from July through October with a purplish seedhead. Researchers like its promise of long-lived stands.

Niagara bluestem, a bunchgrass from New York, is a second line that would suit those more distant areas or as a great grass for erosion control beyond streams or fairways. It is quite a bit taller than the little blue stem, reaching five- to seven-ft. The roots go much deeper, down to 20-in.

Niagara has a nice, full, leafy foliage. Its seedheads are yellow and appear July to September. Even through the winter, it maintains a pleasing variety of brown colors. Courses close to the ocean will be happy to note that it is moderately salt tolerant.

This article is tagged with and posted in Research


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