Contract Grower Native Rangeland Grasses produced by ESRS
Native plant producer, ESRS has been harvesting and producing native rangeland grasses as contract growers since 1985.
If you have a project that requires large quantities of native species we will either have it in our inventory or be able to produce it as a custom order. No order is too large!
Parry’s Oat Grass – Danthonia parryi - PR
Another productive climax bunch grass found in open drier sites in the southern foothills and cordillera, naturally dominant on drier slopes, and co-dominant with rough fescue (and replacing it with over grazing) as moisture conditions improve. The species grows 3- 6 dm tall, produces abundant leafy growth, and forms large bunches which are readily identified by the persistence of old basal sheaths. Although more inclined to flower annually than rough fescue, seed is difficult to handle because of the awns, and is reputed to have poor germination.Plains Rough Fescue – Festuca hallii - PR
Like foothills rough fescue this is a climax species that is highly desired for grazing and ecological preservation. This species dominates the native grasslands in the aspen parkland region and can extend into the mixed grass prairie on moist north slopes. Like foothills rough fescue it has poor establishment ability though its growth form is slightly different.Plug planting of this species is recommended to ensure establishment of a healthy stand. Seeding as well may be beneficial for both species when planting plugs, but this has a high chance of failure and seed can be extremely expensive. Like the other rough fescue species plains rough fescue does not set seed yearly so seed quantities can be limiting.Purple Oat Grass – Schizachne purpurascens - PR
Growth form, distribution and habitat much the same as the preceding species, and as such, a valuable although minor component of wooded regions. Wild harvest would yield poor results, and so reproduction from small breeder plots, then greenhouse grown plugs, would be the preferable method of propagation.Purple Reed Grass – Calamagrostis purpurascens
Climax bunch grasses known to be sporadic, and more rarely locally abundant in western regions and occasionally present in the north. It is important as an indigenous forage species on shallow calcareous soils that can inhibit growth of other species. Seed supply will remain limited and expensive but re-introduction via seed or plugs is recommended in some sensitive cordilleran sites.Richardson’s Needle Grass – Stipa richardsonii - PR
A valuable climax bunch grass growing 4-10 dm tall. It is found primarily in foothills/cordillera where it grows in open woods, on fluvial soils, sometimes co-dominant with rough fescue, and alternately as a major part of the stable plant community. The species can be successfully grown from seed, but as it frequently occurs with other needle grasses, it forms sterile hybrids with them. Thus, wild harvest often of no value. The species is best propagated from small breeder plots, then seed is grown as plugs.Smooth Wild Rye – Elymus glaucus
Smooth wild rye is our second tallest growing grass in small test plots, reaching from 1 to 1.5m in height and is fairly competitive and productive. It can be found to grow throughout Alberta in wooded regions and is tolerant of gray wooded soil conditions. Testing of the current plot may be initiated to determine suitability.
Smooth wild rye may potentially be a good silage and hay species. It is relatively short lived but this can be advantageous when early successional grasses are needed. It is a woodland species with a considerable moisture requirement and moderate fiber qualities.Sweet Grass – Hierochloe odorata - PR
A sod-forming perennial 3-6 dm tall, widely distributed in low grassland, around sloughs and along streams. The species has, historically and globally, been valued because of its sweet-scented, persistent foliage. As well, it is now known for its exceptional soil binding properties (root systems not unlike those of quack grass except the species will not dominate unless in the absence of other grasses). Seed production, at best, is sparse and much of this is sterile, thus it is recommended either for direct sprig transplanting or for greenhouse plugs.Western Porcupine Grass – Stipa curtiseta
Bunch grasses growing 4-6 dm tall. Considered a climax species in portions of the northern parkland, otherwise co-dominant (and as such an increaser with grazing pressure in many areas) with foothills and plains rough fescue and tends to replace needle-and-thread on better sites in the prairies. The species grows readily from seed but as with other needle grasses, awns make handling seed very difficult. The option of producing the species via greenhouse plugs may eliminate some of these concerns.White-grained Mountain Rice Grass – Oryzopsis asperifolia - PR
This is a loosely tufted (also short-creeping) woodland species growing 2-7 dm in height, widely distributed locally. It has attractive, flat, dark green leaves and large rice-like in seeds that mature and shed early in the season. Production plots would be restricted size, the species best hand harvested, then propagated as plugs. As well, natural populations are sparse at best, thus seed supplies always limited.Please direct production enquiries to Greenhouse@easternslopesrangelandseeds.com
or Call us at 1-403-637-2473