Dactylis glomerata L.

ORCHARDGRASS is a very robust, drought and shade tolerant grass. Orchardgrass was introduced into the US from Great Britain, but grows throughout the world in areas of moderate to high rainfall with moderate winters and warm summers. Growth starts early in the spring as daytime temperatures increase, new tiller formation decreases and increases again only after the days become shorter in the fall. Orchardgrass is more heat tolerant than Timothy, but less than tall fescue. However, orchardgrass is very winter-hardy after establishment. It is rather aggressive in mixtures with other grasses, but we have developed varieties (such as Donata) that combine the ability to produce stem-free grass under dry conditions with less aggressiveness towards other grasses.

Breeding is focused on:

• Good yields in summer & fall
• Improved digestibility & palatability
• Resistance to cold
• Dense & prostrate types suitable for grazing
• Upright types suitable for cutting & legume mixtures
• Disease resistance (Puccinia striformis, Rhynchosporium, mildew & Mastigosporium) 

Click on the names in the green bar at right to view corresponding tech sheets.