Cool season, perennial bunchgrass common in semiarid regions from southern Idaho to the Columbia Basin. Can be a dominant species, though slow to establish. Good for use in disturbed mine reclamation. Excellent spring forage prior to awn development; moderate quality later in the season following seed shatter. An inherently low seed yielding species. May hybridize with A. hymenoides to form the hybrid Achnatherum x bloomeri. Varieties listed below.

DISTRIBUTION / ADAPTATION

INFORMATION & ATTRIBUTES

Family: Poaceae

Duration: Perennial

Growth Habit: Graminoid

Native Status: Native

Season: Cool season

Growth Form: Bunchgrass

Mature Height: 24 in.

Annual Precipitation: 6-16 in.

Drought Tolerance: High

Shade Tolerance: Intolerant

Elevation: up to 6,500 ft.

Wetland Indicator Status:

Fire Resistance: No

Fire Tolerance: High

SOIL ADAPTATION

Coarse Texture: Yes

Medium Texture: Yes

Fine Texture: No

Salinity Tolerance: Low

CaCO3 Tolerance: Low

pH Range: 6.0-7.5

SEEDING NOTES

Seeds per Pound: 225,000

Seeding Rate:  PLS lbs/acre

Season: Fall

Days to Germination: