General Description

Rough fescue is a densely tufted, native perennial bunchgrass, an important component of British Columbia’s native grasslands (as it originates in B.C). The name rough refers to the rough edges of the leaves and stems. It has fibrous roots and is rarely rhizomatous. Plants spread from tufts growing at the edges of the crowns. Plains rough fescue (Festuca hallii) is found in the other provinces, however, is not included in Forage U-Pick as there has been very little success in establishing plants within seeded stands.

Type

Native grass.

Origin

Native to British Columbia.

Longevity

Long-lived.

Use

Restoration, grazing. Important forage for both wildlife and livestock. Used in grassland restoration and site rehabilitation.

Optimal Time of Use

Spring and fall. 

Recovery After Use

Rough fescue can be managed with proper utilization and periodic year-long rest. Continued defoliation during the latter part of the spring growth period can be detrimental to rough fescue.

Palatability/Nutritional Value

Good palatability and is readily grazed and has different forage and palatability levels in different regions. It cures on the stem, but early frosts may interfere with the curing process.

Drought Tolerance

Low drought tolerance.

Flooding Tolerance

Low tolerance to flooding.

Winter Hardiness

Moderate winter hardiness. Rough fescue requires a frost-free period of at least 90 days.

Soil Texture Preference

Prefers medium- to coarse-textured soils.

Erosion Control

Can provide high protection from erosion once established. Slow establishment limits use in critical erosion control situations. 

Salinity Tolerance

No to low tolerance.

Acidity Tolerance

Low tolerance, can tolerate soil pH levels down to 6.

Alkalinity Tolerance

Low tolerance – up to pH 8.0.

Seeds per kg

600,000 seeds/kg (272,156 seeds/lb)

Suggested Mixtures

Rough fescue is suitable in a mixture with early- to mid-succession native species.

Ease of Establishment

Emergence is poor despite high germination rates. Rough fescue has moderate seedling vigour. Stand development is slow. Fourteen years after pipeline restoration in Alberta, seeded native fescue species cover is 50% of control sites.

Competitiveness

It is competitive when well established in naturally occurring native plant communities, however seeded stands struggle with establishment which results in low competitiveness.

Management Considerations

Grazing management is required for rough fescue to establish and persist.

General Description

Idaho fescue is a densely tufted, native perennial bunchgrass. It is an important component of late successional upper grassland plant communities in southern British Columbia and is common throughout the U.S. Pacific Northwest. The recognition of Idaho fescue as a separate species is questioned by some authors, who consider it a variety of Festuca occidentalis (western fescue). However, it is closely related to the Festuca ovina complex and has long been identified as a separate species. 

Type

Native grass.

Origin

Western North America.

Longevity

Idaho fescue is long-lived.

Use

Reclamation, grazing. Idaho fescue is an important forage for livestock and native ungulates. It has some potential for rehabilitation and erosion control.

Optimal Time of Use

Idaho fescue can be grazed in all seasons. Most of its growth occurs in spring, but it cures well and is palatable to cattle and native ungulates well into fall. It is not preferred by sheep once it matures.

Recovery After Use

Idaho fescue can withstand grazing of up to 50% of its annual production, but it should not be grazed at the same time each year. It should not be grazed closer than 8 cm (3 in) to the ground. Complete rest every 2-4 years, or a lower level of utilization (30%) will help maintain vigour and range condition.

Palatability/Nutritional Value

Idaho fescue is considered excellent forage for cattle and good forage for sheep, maintains its forage value late into the season, and is good forage for native ungulates in winter.

Annual Precipitation min/max (mm)

305mm / 510mm

Drought Tolerance

Moderate drought tolerance. Idaho fescue is noted to have drought tolerance similar to that of hard fescue.

Flooding Tolerance

Idaho fescue is intolerant of flooding.

Winter Hardiness

High winter hardiness.

Soil Texture Preference

Prefers silt loam or sandy loam soils.

Erosion Control

Extensive root system makes it suitable for erosion control once established. 

Salinity Tolerance

Low tolerance, tolerates weakly saline conditions.

Acidity Tolerance

Low to moderate tolerance, tolerates pH down to 5.6.

Alkalinity Tolerance

Low to moderate, tolerates alkaline conditions up to pH 8.4.

Seeds per kg

192,777 – 208,652 seeds/kg (425,000 – 460,000 seeds/lb)

Suggested Mixtures

Normally recommended as a component in seed mixtures with other native species.

Ease of Establishment

Idaho fescue can be difficult to establish and requires 2–3 years to reach a mature stand phase. Germination can be variable, especially with native seed collections. Two cultivars of Idaho fescue (Joseph and Nezpurs) have been developed at the University of Idaho using 3 phases of phenotypic recurrent selection. The population base for the cultivars came from 89 native ecotypes collected from the northwestern U.S. and Canada. Both exhibit better germination and establishment characteristics than the source collections. Germination will be enhanced with drill seeding, but this may not be practical or desirable depending on the context. Late fall seeding is recommended.

Competitiveness

Moderately competitive once established. Does not compete well with aggressive introduced grasses.

Management Considerations

Idaho fescue decreases with overgrazing. Deferred grazing is beneficial for maintaining Idaho fescue and can provide late fall and winter forage for wildlife.

General Description

Big bluegrass is a native, cool season, long-lived, perennial bunchgrass that matures early in the growing season. It is part of what is referred to as the Sandberg bluegrass complex, which includes 8 species, including big bluegrass, Canby bluegrass, slender bluegrass, Alkali bluegrass, Nevada bluegrass, Sandberg bluegrass, and pine bluegrass. The differentiating characteristics within this complex of species often vary with environmental factors, making distinguishing amongst them very difficult. Big bluegrass is the most robust of this collection and stands out for its large forage production and early spring growth. It has been used successfully for reseeding burned forest areas and is used by upland game birds for nesting.

Type

Native grass.

Origin

Big bluegrass is native to North America.

Longevity

The longevity of big bluegrass stands can exceed 30 years. This is partially due to seed shatter and the prolific “reseeding” of this plant species.

Use

Reclamation, grazing, hay. Upland game birds eat the seeds and use big bluegrass for nesting areas. It is also an important species for reseeding rangelands, stabilizing critical areas, reclaiming mine soils, and revegetating disturbed areas in aspen and conifer forests. Collections in Alaska have been used for erosion control, reclamation, and native plant community restoration.

Optimal Time of Use

Big bluegrass begins growing very early in the spring and up to 4 weeks earlier than crested wheatgrass. However, grazing on newly establishing stands should be deferred for 1 to 3 years.

Recovery After Use

Big bluegrass is considered an increaser species after grazing. It resists trampling very well as it goes dormant during summer and fall.

Palatability/Nutritional Value

Palatable for livestock in spring and fall, for deer in the spring, and for elk in all seasons. As curing progresses over the summer, livestock preference for big bluegrass decreases.

Annual Precipitation min/max (mm)

255mm / 610mm

Drought Tolerance

Does not tolerate drought as well as other cool season grasses.

Flooding Tolerance

Although it will grow in moist conditions, it will not tolerate early spring flooding, poor drainage, or high water tables.

Winter Hardiness

Big bluegrass is rated with excellent cold tolerance, but this rating is from the lower Columbia Basin in the U.S. Pacific Northwest where winters are milder than in many parts of British Columbia.

Soil Texture Preference

Thrives on a variety of soil textures from moderately coarse sands to dense clays.

Erosion Control

Very little to moderate erosion tendency – Southern Interior.

Salinity Tolerance

Low tolerance.

Acidity Tolerance

Low tolerance. Can tolerate pH down to 6.0.

Alkalinity Tolerance

Low tolerance (up to pH 8.0). Not suited for seeding on alkali flats.

Seeds per kg

2,000,000 seeds/kg (926,000 seeds/lb)

Suggested Mixtures

Can be mixed with native fescues, wheatgrasses, and wildryes.

Ease of Establishment

Some varieties of big bluegrass shatter easily and grow from scattered seed, thus stands can improve and fill in over time. Cheatgrass can be a problem for establishment. Weeds such as Russian thistle and prickly lettuce are less problematic.

Competitiveness

Once established, big bluegrass, especially the Sherman variety, competes well with cheatgrass.

Management Considerations

When seeded with other native plants, big bluegrass is often a minor component of the mix. Management of the stand should consider major species in the mix and overall seeding objectives.

General Description

Altai wildrye is a long-lived bunch grass with an extensive root system. It is noted for its high salinity tolerance, capacity to withstand drought, and ability to stay green into the fall. Stems are up to 120 cm (4 ft) tall with mostly basal leaf growth. Leaves are stiff, upright and green to blue-green. Seed heads are thick spikes. Seeds produced are large and shatter easily from the seed head. Altai wildrye has wider, stiffer leaves on more robust plants than Russian wildrye.   

Type

Tame grass.

Origin

Siberia and Mongolia. Varieties developed in Canada.

Longevity

At least 20 years. Establishment difficult and slow.

Use

Pasture, stockpiled.

Optimal Time of Use

Summer, fall, winter. Altai wildrye grows slower in the spring than many other grasses, but can be grazed once sufficient basal leaves grow. Altai wildrye can be continually or rotationally grazed. Altai wildrye stockpiles well because of its long basal upright leaves that cure well remain accessible for livestock.

Recovery After Use

Requires a minimum 60-80 days of recovery after use. Leave at least 15 cm (6 in) for regrowth to occur. A lighter summer grazing followed by stockpiling can produce a modest yield of high quality forage.

Palatability/Nutritional Value

Altai wildrye’s palatability is higher later in the growing season than in spring. A lighter summer grazing followed by stockpiling can produce a modest yield of high quality forage. Altai wildrye has approximately 65% dry matter digestibility and 10% crude protein at maturity in the fall. Quality is held into the winter.

Annual Precipitation min/max (mm)

300mm / 460mm

Drought Tolerance

High tolerance. Deep roots (up to 10 feet deep) can take advantage of deep soil moisture and high water tables. Continues to grow slowly and stay green.

Flooding Tolerance

Withstands one to two weeks of spring flooding.

Winter Hardiness

Excellent hardiness.

Soil Texture Preference

Altai wildrye establishes best on loam and clay soils, but will grow on all soil textures. It will have excellent production in dry areas with high water tables. Although it can thrive on sandy soils, it requires good moisture during establishment years.

Erosion Control

Limited to no use for erosion control.

Salinity Tolerance

High tolerance.

Acidity Tolerance

Moderate tolerance.

Alkalinity Tolerance

Moderate to high tolerance.

Seeds per kg

133,000 seeds/kg (60,000 seeds/lb)

Suggested Mixtures

Altai wildrye is often seeded alone or in a simple mix with species such as alfalfa or cicer milkvetch. Seeding other forages at 90 degree angles to the altai wildrye rows can decrease interspecies competition.

Ease of Establishment

Altai wildrye seedlings are slow growing and hard to establish. This is a major limiting factor in the use of Altai wildrye. It competes poorly with weeds, companion crops or other forage seedlings. It is noted to take up to three years to fully establish for use.

Competitiveness

Altai wildrye is competitive once established. It is a very poor competitor while establishing.

Management Considerations

Attentive management of competition during establishment will result in adequate plant populations for optimal production. Altai wildrye remains most productive if it is grazed in the fall. Although a long standing species, it has never been wide spread in popularity.

General Description

Tufted hairgrass is a short-lived, tufted, cool season, native perennial bunchgrass. Roots are shallow, fibrous, and dense. A mass of deep green leaves covers the crown. Densely tufted and with numerous stems, this native grass is found throughout British Columbia. Seed production is important for stand maintenance. It is valuable as a range grass and fairly resistant to close grazing. 

Type

Native grass.

Origin

North America.

Longevity

Generally considered a short-lived species.

Use

Reclamation, grazing. This highly variable species can adapt to stressful environments, and is often recommended for reclamation and rehabilitation projects.

Optimal Time of Use

Highly palatable, resistant to grazing, remains green throughout the summer, and good for pasture forage. Grazing should be deferred until the stands are established

Recovery After Use

High recovery if rotational grazing system is used. Despite this species’ resistance to grazing damage, it will decline with continuous season-long grazing.

Palatability/Nutritional Value

Very palatable early in the season with up to 20% protein content in early May.

Annual Precipitation min/max (mm)

400mm / 600mm

Drought Tolerance

Low tolerance.

Flooding Tolerance

Adapted to seasonally flooded areas.

Winter Hardiness

High winter hardiness.

Soil Texture Preference

Can be found in a wide variety of soil types from fine to coarse.

Erosion Control

Sometimes used to stabilize stream banks, canals, and shorelines. Tolerates heavy metal contamination. 

Salinity Tolerance

Tufted hairgrass is generally considered to have low salinity tolerance; however, it grows in salt marshes and coastal estuaries so some tolerance to salinity is inferred.

Acidity Tolerance

High tolerance; tolerant of pH down to 3.5.

Alkalinity Tolerance

Low tolerance, up to pH 7.5.

Seeds per kg

3,600,000 seeds/kg (1,633,000 seeds/lb)

Suggested Mixtures

Native species with similar tolerances for reclamation. Where species diversity is a goal, mixtures with less than 0.3 to 0.6 kg/ha (approx.1/4 to 1/2 lb/acre) may be required as heavier rates will have high tufted hairgrass stand content.

Ease of Establishment

Tufted hairgrass may be slow to establish the first year but will establish with adequate moisture. Seed selected from high elevations may have higher dormancy and is likely to germinate better in fall seeding applications. Seeds selected from low elevations have lower dormancy and thus can be planted in the fall or spring. Specific selections are often required for extreme soil conditions.

Competitiveness

Tufted hair grass is considered moderately competitive as it can dominate if it is seeded too heavily in a mixture, and it can be a serious competitor with trees.

Management Considerations

Tufted hairgrass will decrease with continuous season long use. Spring grazing should be deferred in wet areas until soils are dry enough to prevent pugging and damage to plants.

General Description

Italian ryegrass is a short-lived, highly tillered, cool season biennial bunchgrass. It is usually grown as an annual forage or a quickly establishing, green ground cover. There are two types of ryegrasses: Italian and Westerwold, both with diploid and tetraploid varieties. Ryegrasses cross-pollinate freely and it is difficult to maintain genetic purity. Often, they form a mixture of perennial and annual species. 

Type

Tame grass.

Origin

Italian ryegrass originates from northern Italy. Westerwold ryegrass was developed in the Netherlands from Italian ryegrass, and can set seed in the year of sowing.

Longevity

Will only live 1 to 2 years.

Use

Optimal Time of Use

Throughout the season and a good option for extending grazing into late fall and early winter where adapted.

Recovery After Use

Palatability/Nutritional Value

Highly palatable and highly digestible. Fall regrowth showed crude protein 17 to 23% (dependent on sampling time and variety, at Melfort, 1992).

Drought Tolerance

Low drought tolerance.

Flooding Tolerance

Good tolerance to excess moisture and short periods of flooding.

Winter Hardiness

Low, winter severity determines whether plants survive for a second year.

Soil Texture Preference

Grows best on fertile, well-drained soils but is adapted to a wide range of soil types and textures.

Erosion Control

Can provide quick cover for short-term erosion control, and while perennials are establishing.

Salinity Tolerance

Moderate tolerance.

Acidity Tolerance

High tolerance, will tolerate pH as low as 5.0.

Alkalinity Tolerance

Low tolerance will tolerate pH up to 7.9.

Seeds per kg

501,000 seeds/kg (227,250 seeds/lb)

Suggested Mixtures

Italian ryegrasses can be seeded in mixtures, although it should be seeded at a lower rate to allow establishment of slower to establish perennials.

Ease of Establishment

Italian ryegrasses are easy to establish. Seed in mid- to late May or if concerned about weed pressure, delay seeding until mid- June. Responds well to fertilizer applications (especially N and P). If broadcasting N, apply before seeding or after plant is at the 2- to 3-leaf stage. Functions very well as a nurse crop while establishing other slower growing forage crops.

Competitiveness

Highly competitive in the year of seeding.

Management Considerations

Lack of winter hardiness suggests on planning for use as an annual crop except in areas where winters are typically mild.

General Description

Fowl bluegrass is a loosely tufted, low growing, native, cool season, perennial bunchgrass. It is commonly a minor component in native grass seed mixes. It has fibrous roots and a tufted bunchgrass growth habit, but can form a weak sod. 

Type

Native grass.

Origin

Native to British Columbia.

Longevity

Moderate, 5-10 years.

Use

Reclamation. Used as a minor component in native grass reclamation mixes and is considered an early- to mid-successional species. It has forage value and is used in pastures by both wildlife and livestock, where moisture is sufficient. The Chipewyan used fowl bluegrass to make vaccines or allergens to treat hay fever and to make hair rinses to revitalize hair.

Optimal Time of Use

Early in the spring.

Recovery After Use

Slow recovery after clipping or grazing. This species can be either an increaser or a decreaser after grazing, depending on site conditions.

Palatability/Nutritional Value

Fowl bluegrass is noted to have low protein and low palatability for both browsing and grazing animals.

Annual Precipitation min/max (mm)

450mm / 570mm

Drought Tolerance

Low drought tolerance.

Flooding Tolerance

Although fowl bluegrass has a low tolerance to flooding, it is sometimes considered a wetland species indicator.

Winter Hardiness

Fowl bluegrass can tolerate temperatures as low as -38°C.

Soil Texture Preference

Adapted to medium-textured or loam soils to fine-textured or clayey soils.

Erosion Control

Has moderate value for use in erosion control.

Salinity Tolerance

Low tolerance.

Acidity Tolerance

High tolerance, found on soils with pH as low as 4.9.

Alkalinity Tolerance

Low tolerance, found on soils up to pH 7.5.

Seeds per kg

6,957,000 seeds/kg (3,155,656 seeds/lb)

Suggested Mixtures

Suitable for use with other native species.

Ease of Establishment

Fowl bluegrass has moderate seedling vigour. Seeds per gram should be verified when calculating seeding rate, as the seed weights reported in literature varied from 4.187 to 6.957 million seeds per kilogram.

Competitiveness

Moderately competitive where it is adapted.

Management Considerations

Several species of native bluegrasses including fowl bluegrass can cause problems for pedigreed seed growers as these species are difficult to clean out of other grass seed crops.

General Description

Chewing’s red fescue is a long-lived, loosely tufted perennial that usually grows from rhizomes and appears in many forms and variants. Both introduced and native types have been recognized as separate species. Over 100 varieties of this complex are sold in Europe. Some have been introduced to North America and have hybridized with native forms. 

Type

Tame grass.

Origin

Most cultivars are likely to be of European origin, but some may have been bred from germplasm from Europe and North America.

Longevity

Long-lived.

Use

Reclamation, pasture.

Optimal Time of Use

Awned wheatgrass is optimally grazed prior to seed head development.

Recovery After Use

Graze awned wheatgrass once per year. At least four inches (100mm) of stubble should be left after grazing to maintain vigor.

Palatability/Nutritional Value

Awned wheatgrass is palatable until heading. Awn development and coarse stems at maturity reduce palatability. Digestibility ranges from 55% in June to 35% in October and crude protein ranges from 14% in June to 4% in October.

Annual Precipitation min/max (mm)

350mm / 600mm or higher.

Drought Tolerance

Moderate drought tolerance.

Flooding Tolerance

Withstands approximately one to two weeks of spring flooding.

Winter Hardiness

Good winter hardiness.

Soil Texture Preference

Awned wheatgrass is best suited to moist, well drained loamy textured soils in sheltered areas. Awned wheatgrass is found native in moist shady areas such as coulees, on the edges of brush or tree bluffs, or in wet areas around treed sloughs.

Erosion Control

Not noted for erosion control, but is a useful component of reclamation mixes.

Salinity Tolerance

Slight salinity tolerance.

Acidity Tolerance

Slight acidity tolerance.

Alkalinity Tolerance

Low tolerance.

Seeds per kg

271,000 seeds/kg (123,000 seeds/lb)

Suggested Mixtures

Native seed mixtures for higher moisture areas or sheltered areas. Found in reclamation mixes.

Ease of Establishment

Awned wheatgrass is relatively easy to establish.

Competitiveness

Little is known about its competitiveness in pure stands or simple mixes.

Management Considerations

Allowing seed set and drop every few years will foster stand longevity as little is known about the plant’s lifespan. Although awned wheatgrass is a subspecies of slender wheatgrass, little is known about managing it agronomically.

General Description

Hairy vetch is an annual or biennial, hardy, cool season agronomic legume, also commonly referred to as fodder vetch, winter vetch, or sand vetch. It has a weak tap root that grows up to 60 to 90 cm (24 to 35 in) with many side branches in the top 20 cm (8 in) and is known as an excellent nitrogen fixer. 

Type

Tame legume.

Origin

Native to Europe and Asia. Now the most used vetch in North America.

Longevity

Annual or biennial.

Use

Hay, grazing, erosion control. Consumption of seed can be poisonous to livestock. Hairy vetch is especially known for erosion control, bank stabilization, winter cover crop, and soil conditioning. It can be a suitable plant in organic and no-till pasture and cropping systems.

Optimal Time of Use

Spring and winter. 

Recovery After Use

The growth habit of hairy vetch means it is typically used once per grazing season.

Palatability/Nutritional Value

High palatability, high crude protein values and very digestible.

Annual Precipitation min/max (mm)

450mm / 600mm.

Drought Tolerance

High drought tolerance.

Flooding Tolerance

Some flooding tolerance but not adapted to poorly drained soils.

Winter Hardiness

Winter hardy but dependent on good snow cover. Vetch seeded alone may be vulnerable to frost heave damage.

Soil Texture Preference

Prefers sandy soils but is adapted to all soil textures.

Erosion Control

High ability to control erosion. Hairy vetch can provide a heavy surface mulch.

Salinity Tolerance

Low to moderate tolerance.

Acidity Tolerance

Low tolerance, prefers pH 6.0 to 7.5.

Alkalinity Tolerance

Low tolerance.

Seeds per kg

44,000 seeds/kg (97,003 seeds/lb).

Suggested Mixtures

Hairy vetch is commonly fall-seeded with rye for pasture use.

Ease of Establishment

Easily establishes where adapted.

Competitiveness

Once established, hairy vetch can be aggressive and competitive. It sets seed and can proliferate from self-seeding.

Management Considerations

Hairy vetch is normally planted in the fall. It can be broadcast or drill seeded.

General Description

American vetch is a long-lived, cool season, native perennial legume. It has climbing or trailing tendrils; the name vicia is from the Latin vincio meaning to bind or climb. It is commonly found throughout British Columbia. Its common names include American vetch, wild vetch, stiff-leaf vetch, and wild pea. Currently recognized subspecies are Vicia americana ssp. americana and Vicia americana ssp. minor Hook. 

Type

Native legume.

Origin

Native to North America.

Longevity

Long-lived.

Use

Reclamation, pasture. American vetch is used as a nitrogen-fixing cover crop, as a legume in native seed mixtures for revegetating disturbed areas, and for wildlife and livestock grazing. First Nations used the leaves for poultices, and the pods and seeds for food.

Optimal Time of Use

Summer.

Recovery After Use

Not tolerant to heavy or continuous grazing; decreases with overgrazing.

Palatability/Nutritional Value

Low yielding but valuable forage for grazing both wildlife (mule deer, grizzly bear, black bear, small mammals, game birds) and livestock (cattle, sheep, horses).

Annual Precipitation min/max (mm)

230mm / 1270mm

Drought Tolerance

High tolerance.

Flooding Tolerance

Is not tolerant of saturated soils or flooding.

Winter Hardiness

Considered winter hardy where it is adapted in the lowland, steppe, and montane zones.

Soil Texture Preference

Prefers fine or clay soils to medium-textured or loamy soils. It prefers moist to dry soils and full sun.

Erosion Control

Some erosion control value if established.

Salinity Tolerance

No tolerance to moderate tolerance. Ecotype variance should be expected.

Acidity Tolerance

Low tolerance, tolerates pH levels down to 5.9.

Alkalinity Tolerance

Low tolerance, up to pH 7.2.

Seeds per kg

72,230 seeds/kg (32,763 seeds/lb)

Suggested Mixtures

In pasture situations, can be mixed with a taller-growing grass or fall rye so that it can climb. Should be mixed with other suitable native species for native plant community restoration, or where native species are desired.

Ease of Establishment

Scarification (scratching or etching) of the seed will decrease the germination time from 14 to 7 days but will not improve overall germination. Spring or fall seeding. Low seedling vigour.

Competitiveness

Can be very competitive in some environments.

Management Considerations

Managed grazing is required to maintain American vetch in the plant community.