Here is our list of Individual Grass Seed Species grown for seed in Oregon. If you would like to purchase any of the Individual Grass Seed Species seed found on this page in small quantities you might be interested in our online retail store located at www.silverfallsseed.com. If you are interested in purchasing bulk quantities of Individual Grass Seed Species seed then please visit our wholesale site at www.oregonwholesaleseed.com.

USDA Plant Database Link (where some of our information came from)

American Sloughgrass is an annual grass that can be found along the edges of lakes, ditches and ponds, in sunny locations that may be lightly shaded. It is an excellent source of food for birds and small mammals and will grow up to three feet tall. American Sloughgrass supports broad, green foliage and actively grows in wetted terrain. It makes an excellent habitat for waterfowl and can be found along the Pacific coast between Alaska and California, as well as throughout the Rocky Mountain states. It tolerates acidic soils with above average amounts of saline. It can also grow in semiarid ground and is either a cool season annual or a short-lived perennial grass.

Annual Ryegrass is an Oregon Grown bunchgrass with origins that can be traced back to Europe. It was first found growing in Italy, and then France and England. Subsequently it made its trek across the Atlantic during colonial times and became a staple forage grass throughout North America. It was first naturalized in the southern regions of the continent, but has spread its roots throughout the Northwest.

Blue Wildrye is a short lived, cool season perennial bunchgrass that is native to North America. Among the most common of the western wildryes, it is highly habitable to open forests and dry meadows where rocky soils abound. Though it is found west of the Great Plains, between Alaska and New Mexico, it occurs in its greatest abundance throughout the Central Rocky Mountain woodland regions. The coarse foliage it produces causes it to be rated as only a fair forage grass, although the new growth of Blue Wildrye is nutritional and agreeable to both cattle and horses. Within the blast zone of the Mt. Saint Helens eruption site, Blue Wildrye has been an essential staple in the diets of elk and other wildlife. It is known for being used in the regeneration of traumatized ecosystems because it will work congruently with tree restoration. Its root system is deeply penetrating and aggressive and the grass will mature between two and five feet tall. Blue Wildrye is drought tolerant, but will grow best in soils that are moderately moist, at elevations ranging from sea level to subalpine.

California Brome is a short-lived perennial that is native to the Rocky Mountain and Pacific Coast regions. It is a highly rated forage grass for livestock and once mature can reach up to four feet in height. It has an aggressive root system that can establish itself at a faster rate than most native grasses and is often used for erosion control and land rehabilitation. California Brome prefers full sun or partial shade and can adapt to soils that range from moist to dry. Germination will typically occur between 10 and14 days after the seeds are planted.

California Oatgrass is a native bunchgrass that is dispersed throughout the western regions of North America, between California and Canada, as well as in some parts of South America. It is often located throughout coastal parries, around the outside of wetlands, and in a variety of other vegetative communities. In Oregon, California Oatgrass is found on both sides of the Cascade Mountain range. It is a short-lived perennial that grows between 1 and 2 ½ feet tall in areas of full sun. This grass has adapted to a broad variety of growing conditions. It produces self-pollinated seeds that drop from small flowers which never open, and can handle terrain stress and ecosystem disturbances. It will establish in medium or fine textured soil and has a moderate drought tolerance. California Oatgrass is a slow growing grass but is distinctive in that it will stay green all year long.

Columbia Brome is a perennial bunchgrass that is found in full sun or partial shade throughout coniferous forests and oak savannahs, from sea level to lower subalpine elevations. The growth of this grass is spread between California and Alaska, reaching into western Montana, Wyoming, and Utah. It can grow in both dry and moist areas, reaching heights that range from half a foot to four feet tall. The shade tolerance for Columbia Brome reaches its limit around 30%. Coarse or medium textured soils will sustain this valuable forage grass which is frequently used in pasture seed mixes throughout California, to graze livestock that live on both summer and winter ranges.

Meadow Barley is a rapidly developing, highly tolerant, perennial that grows throughout much of North America. It can abide soil with higher saline concentration and is often found in salt marshes, along coastal beaches, stream banks, meadows and grassy slopes. It will germinate and grow in full sun at elevations ranging from sea level to subalpine. At best it is rated as a moderate forage grass and is typically only used where it is found in profusion. Meadow Barley is best for livestock if it is grazed early in its growing cycle, because when it reaches maturity it is not highly palatable. It is frequently used as fast establishing ground cover to stabilize barren landscape that is threatened with erosions issues. Seed mixtures used for ecosystem rehabilitation often include Meadow Barely and planting it sparingly will allow for the establishment of other species of grass in the same area. The soil that Meadow Barley is planted in can be either coarse or fine. The extent to which Meadow Barley is processed will affect the size of the final cleaned seed, and thus affect the number of seeds contained in each pound.

Molate Fescue is considered by many to be native to the northern coastal regions of the United States, but it has been introduced throughout much of the rest of the world. It grows in dry or wet habitats at elevations ranging from sea level to alpine. Molate Fescue can be planted in many different soil compositions and has moderate forbearance of ground with low fertility. This fescue is rated good as forage for cattle and horses. It is an optimum pasture feed crop on alpine ranges, because even through frost its foliage retains all of its nutritional value and does not die off. Offering livestock sustenance until the snowpack is too deep to allow for its consumption. If overgrazed, Molate Fescue will decrease in density. It is not adaptable to areas that experience high levels of sulfuric pollution or fumigation. Tolerant of shade and drought, this fescue will mature around two feet tall.

Pine Bluegrass is a relatively long lived perennial bunchgrass that is often found in meadows, open forests, and on rocky slopes and hills at low to mid elevations. It is rated well as a forage grass, but its populations tend to fluctuate with the annual weather systems that it experiences. In drought years, the populations of this native grass will drop, so it is not as dependable as other forage crops. However, under favorable conditions no native grass will produce as much early spring grazing material as Pine Bluegrass. Overgrazing will cause a pasture filled with this to rapidly deteriorate. It will grow between one and four feet tall, mature early, and present a color of shaded blue. It can tolerate moderately shaded areas and coarse sands or fine clay soils. But it will not grow in soils that are exposed to saline, are strongly alkaline or have high levels of acidity. A variation of the Poa family that is more widely known is Sandberg Bluegrass.

Slender Hairgrass is a biennial, or short lived perennial bunch grass that grows in a wide range of habitats. It will grow in anything from dry ranges to moist wetlands. It is a native grass that can be found found between Alaska and Mexico in the Western United States, and south into parts of Argentina and Chile. Plant this grass in an area that gets full sun or partial shade, in soil that is fine, medium, or coarse in texture. Native seed takes longer to get out of the ground and typically needs cold weather to help initiate germination. Some may take up to three years to fully establish themselves.

Slender Wheatgrass is a short lived, cool season, perennial bunchgrass. It is native to North America, from Alaska to Newfoundland, and as far south as Mexico. Overall it is rated as a good forage grass for all types of livestock, but it lacks significant protein value. It matures at heights between two and four feet tall and will establish quickly after its seeds are sown. Slender Wheatgrass has a high salinity tolerance and is often utilized for erosion control, rehabilitation of damaged ecosystems, and re-vegetation of overgrazed pastures. It will grow in moderately parched prairie ranges, as well as subalpine, alpine and temperate forests. Medium textured soil, that ranges anywhere between moist and dry, will support the growth of Slender Wheatgrass.

Spike Bentgrass is a perennial bunchgrass that is found in areas that have high moister levels and receive full sun. It naturally grows along the edges of streams and throughout wetlands, at elevations ranging anywhere from 10,000 feet to sea level. Between one and four feet tall, Spiked Bentgrass is easy to establish and grow in moist, moderately acidic mineral soils. It is rated as a good forage grass and will typically reseed itself. Occasionally it will develop and utilize rhizomes to distribute itself throughout an ecosystem.

Tall Mannagrass is an upright, cool season, long lived perennial bunchgrass that grows along streams, ditches and in moist woodlands from California to British Columbia. It can also be found in Montana, Arizona and New Mexico. Rated excellent as forage for livestock, it reaches heights between 2 ½ and 4 ½ feet tall and tolerates standing water or heavily shaded areas. It is not adaptable to soil with high saline concentrations and requires moderate fertility. Germination will typically occur within two or three weeks after the seeds are sown.

Tufted Hairgrass is a clump-forming grass that can be found in wet prairies, moist meadows, and along the peripheries of marshlands throughout the temperate regions of North America. From New Mexico to Alaska, as far east as Greenland, this long-lived perennial will grow at elevations ranging from sea level to alpine. A variety of different soil compositions will support the growth of Tufted Hairgrass. It stands between two and four feet tall and is recognized as an excellent forage grass with captivating foliage and a higher tolerance for shade than most natives. It produces tiny flowers which bloom in the summer and it can tolerate moderate grazing. If grazed heavily the distribution of Tufted Hairgrass will diminish.

Water Foxtail is a low growing, aquatic perennial grass that stands between one and two feet tall and can usually be found growing in locations exposed to full sun. It will tolerate standing in shallow water for short periods of time. The grass is green with a tinge of blue and matures earlier in the season than many other grasses.

Western Fescue is found at low to mid elevations in open forests, on rocky slopes and throughout the meadows of North America. It is a tufted, short lived, perennial bunchgrass that matures at heights around three feet tall. It does not produce seeds that spread prolifically, and it is slow to establish. Western Fescue can be found most predominantly in the western states. Commonly used for wildlife habitat restoration, it is drought and shade tolerant, and requires little moisture to grow.