Sideoats Grama, Vaughn

Sideoats Grama is a long-lived, warm-season grass found eastward from the Rocky Mountains. Sideoats is a perennial, mid-grass with short scaly underground stems. Growth begins in early April, and the seed stalks which appear from July to September are from 18 to 36 inches in height.

The small oat-like seeds hang down uniformly on one side of the seed stem, as indicated by the name "sideoats". It usually grows as a bunchgrass, but some strains may have underground roots, stocks, or rhizomes and may form a sod. This characteristic is more pronounced in northern and eastern strains. It is found in most range sites up to 7,218 ft. in elevation. Sideoats Grama is adapted to a wide range of soil and climatic conditions but prefers medium or coarse-textured soil. On shallow calcareous soils, sideoats may become the dominant species. Sideoats will increase and tend to replace taller grasses on ranges. It will also gradually decrease if continually grazed closer than 2 to 3 inches during the growing season.

This grass is considered excellent for conservation use and responds to nitrogen fertilizer for increased seed and forage production. It must be planted in the spring or early summer in order to germinate and establish while the soil is warm.

Growing Height: 12 to 36" Min Yearly Rainfall: 8" Seeds Per Pound: 191,000 Acre Rate: 40 lbs Lbs per 1000sq feet: 3 lbsGrowing Region: Southern California, Southeastern Utah, Southwest, Midwest, Western Northeast