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Green Needlegrass Nassella viridula Native to the northern Great Plains and adjacent areas. Rather tall, cool-season, long-lived, perennial bunchgrass. It grows 18" to 3 1/2' tall with abundant, glossy bright green basal leaves 4 to 12" long. Deep fibrous root system.
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| Preferences |
One of a few native cool season grasses with a wide range of soil
adaptation, especially tolerant of heavy clays. Starts growth in
March and makes most of its vegetative growth in May and June, matures
in July. Makes re-growth all summer if moisture is adequate.
Thrives on clay soils and fractured shale of bottom lands, less common
on sandy and loam soils. It has good drought resistance, but not
as good as blue grama and nearly as good as western wheatgrass.
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| Uses |
Used for pasture, hay, and land stabilization, on erosive sandy to
clayey soils in northern Great Plains. Seeds eaten by small
rodents and song birds. Often seeded in mixtures with western
wheatgrass or legumes or both. It is best not to graze first
season. Planned grazing with two months rest every other year, if
possible, where warm season grasses are nearby , plan to use them in
rotation. Moderately palatable, use when plants are still green
and after seed drop.
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| Planting |
Drill 1/2 - 3/4" deep on loam and clay soils. Drill slightly
deeper on sandy soils. Control weeds in new stands and withhold
grazing until stands established. Weeds need to be
controlled especially in first 30 to 60 days of growth. .
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