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| ## eastern gamagrass {#eastern-gamagrass .Title-Header}               |
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| *Tripsacum dactyloides* L.                                            |
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| Plant Symbol = TRDA3                                                  |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS Plant Materials Program

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="2.2916666666666665in" height="3.4375in"}

Britton and Brown 1913

Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada.

##### Uses {#uses .Header-3}

The primary uses of eastern gamagrass are for producing hay and haylage.
It is more productive, palatable, and nutritious than the other native
perennial warm season grasses. Gamagrass may be used as an alternative
to annual silage crops, or as a pasture forage where intensive
rotational grazing is well managed.

##### Status {#status .Header-3}

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status (e.g. threatened or endangered
species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

##### Description {#description .Header-3}

*Tripsacum dactyloides* L., eastern gamagrass, is a native, warm season,
perennial, sod-forming grass that is a distant relative of corn. This
plant can reach a height of up to 8 feet. Seed is produced from June to
September. The seed heads are 6 to 10 inches long and are made up of one
to several spikes. The leaves can be 3/8 to 3/4 inch wide and 12 to 24
inches long. They also have a well defined midrib.

##### Adaptation {#adaptation .Header-3}

Gamagrass is native to the eastern half of the United States. It does
best in moderately well drained to somewhat poorly drained soils.
Lowlands, subirrigated, or irrigated areas that are not alkaline will
also support this species well. It will tolerate extended periods of
flooding.

For a current distribution map, please consult the Plant Profile page
for this species on the PLANTS Website.

##### Establishment {#establishment .Header-3}

Site selection must be made carefully before planting. Gamagrass may be
seeded with conventional equipment into a thoroughly prepared seedbed if
the site has good weed control history. Sites formerly in cool season
pastures or hayland should be sown without tillage to avoid exposing
weed seeds to good germination conditions.

The seeds must first be stratified (exposed to cold, wet conditions) for
8 weeks before spring sowing. Seed may be purchased stratified from
commercial growers. To stratify artificially, place the seeds in a
burlap bag until the bag is about 1/2 full. Soak this in a 1% solution
of fungicide for 10‑12 hours. Afterwards, drain the seeds and seal them,
along with the sack, in a plastic bag. Store them this way for 8 weeks
at 35-45 °F. Stratification may also be achieved by planting in the fall
after November 1, but before frost is in the soil.

The planting site must also be prepared. Do this as you would for corn.
Planting should be done when the soil is at least 55 °F; early corn
planting season is preferred. If planting gamagrass with corn, plant the
corn first and sow the grass between the corn rows.

In the Northeast, gamagrass is prone to frost heaving over the first
winter after planting on some soils. The use of moderately well drained
or well drained soils makes this possibility less likely. On soils with
somewhat poor drainage, use all strategies to produce the largest
possible plants by the end of the first season. Plants with 15 to 20
culms seem to be very resistant to frost heaving, while those with less
than 10 culms are vulnerable.

##### Management {#management .Header-3}

To control weeds in pure stands of gamagrass, cultivation works the best
with care taken not to bury the seedlings. If the grass is planted with
corn, cultivation should not be used. In this case, good pre-emergent
weed control measures should have been taken. To control perennial
cool-season grasses in established stands, woody competition, and some
diseases, a controlled burn may be done in the early spring when the
grass is about 1 inch tall.

When cutting hay, do not cut any lower than 6-8 inches. Three cuttings
may be done: The first one about June 10-15 prior to heading; the second
cutting about July 30; and the third cutting should be done no later
than September 5. A two cut system may be appropriate in more northern
states and on lower production sites. The first cutting should be at
boot stage; the second cutting 4-8 weeks later depending on production,
but no later than September 5 to allow adequate growth before frost. If
the gamagrass is to be grazed, a good forage management system must be
used that provides recovery periods for the grass and does not allow
grazing below an 8-inch stubble height.

##### Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin) {#cultivars-improved-and-selected-materials-and-area-of-origin .Header-3}

'Pete': This cultivar was developed at the Kansas Plant Materials Center
from an assembly of over 60 Kansas and Oklahoma collections. It is
non-uniform and widely adapted.

##### Prepared By & Species Coordinator:  {#prepared-by-species-coordinator .Header-3}

USDA NRCS Plant Materials Program

##### 05Feb2002 JLK; 30may06jsp {#feb2002-jlk-30may06jsp .Header-4}

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

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orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases
apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication of program information (Braille,
large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA\'s [TARGET
Center](http://www.usda.gov/oo/target.htm) at 202-720-2600 (voice and
TDD).*

*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice or
TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.*

*Read about [Civil Rights at the Natural Resources Convervation
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