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| ## green needlegrass {#green-needlegrass .Title-Header}               |
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| *Nassella viridula* (Trin.) Barkworth                                 |
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| Plant Symbol = NAVI4                                                  |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS Bismarck Plant Materials Center

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

##### Alternate Names  {#alternate-names .Header-3}

Feather bunchgrass, *Stipa viridula*

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

*Rangeland/hayland*: Green needlegrass is well suited for use in
mixtures for range seeding, critical area establishment, mineland
revegetation, wildlife habitat, and other plantings where the
establishment of native vegetation is the objective. This species is
nutritious, palatable, but decreases under grazing use. The awns are not
as troublesome to livestock as with other needlegrasses. Green
needlegrass is frequently included in seedings of mixed midgrasses, but
due partly to its hard seed coat, it may be slow to germinate and become
established.

##### 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}

*General*: Green needlegrass is a cool-season (C~3~) native perennial
bunchgrass. It grows to a height of 18 to 36 inches. The seed head is a
compacted panicle, varying from 4 to 10 inches in length. Flowering
occurs in early June with seed usually maturing in late June or early
July. The awns are curved, sharply bent in the middle, and about one
inch long. The leaves are often rolled, thread-like, 4 to 12 inches
long, smooth, with prominent veins above. Auricles are absent. The
ligule is a ring of hairs, and the sheath is hairy at the margins. This
species has rather deep, fibrous roots which in favorable situations may
extend to a depth of 10 feet or more. Green needlegrass is very
resistant to disease. It occurs only sparingly in most associations of
native vegetation.

*Distribution*: For current distribution, please consult the Plant
Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

*Habitat*: This grass is an important native of the Northern Great
Plains, and is found as far south as Arizona. Green needlegrass grows on
medium to fine-textured soils in both the True Prairie and Mixed
Prairie. On medium-textured soils, green needlegrass grows with western
wheatgrass, needleandthread, and blue grama. On fine-textured soils,
needleandthread drops out, and on even finer soils, blue grama decreases
leaving green needlegrass and western wheatgrass as dominants. Green
needlegrass naturally occurs on bottomlands, flat benches and overflow
area along streams.

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

This species is recommended for seeding mixes in the 12 to 18 inch
precipitation zone. High dormancy is a characteristic of the seed of
this species. Germinability improves for several years after harvest.
Seedlings are slow in developing. Once established, they have good
vigor. Green needlegrass has approximately 181,000 seeds per pound. The
recommended seeding rate for western North and South Dakota is 6 PLS
pounds per acre (25 pure live seeds per square foot). A full seeding
rate for eastern North and South Dakota is 7.5 PLS pounds per acre (30
pure live seeds per square foot).

This species is often planted as part of a mix with other native
grasses. If used as a component of a mix, it is necessary to adjust the
seeding rate to the percent of mix desired. On most sites in the Dakotas
where this species is adapted, it is seldom more than 30 percent of the
mix. This species should be planted with equipment which provides for
proper seed depth, a uniform seeding rate, and good seed to soil
contact. If the seed has been processed to remove the awns, it can be
seeded with other grasses in the small grain or wheatgrass box of a
grass drill. The seedbed needs to be firm enough to allow seed to be
planted only ½ to ¾ inch deep.

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

*Hayland*: Due to its early spring green-up, green needlegrass is an
important component of natural plant communities. This species is
harvested for hay in native grass mixtures. In some areas, it makes up
an appreciable portion of the yields of native hay from upland areas or
from flats, on loamy to heavy clay soils. The hay is of good quality and
is readily eaten by livestock. The time of peak forage production for
green needlegrass is from mid to late August. In studies carried out in
North and South Dakota, the five-year average for forage production
varied from 700 lb/ac on a fine sandy loam to 1,100 lb/ac on a clay
loam. Crude protein is good during the early growing season. A study at
Hettinger, North Dakota, indicated a range from 19 percent on April 26,
to 5 percent on August 24.

*Pasture*: Green needlegrass is not recommended for a solid seeding for
grazing use. It is best used in pasture mixes. Growth begins in early
spring, and cattle will seek it out. Growth continues in the fall when
moisture conditions are favorable. It makes excellent recovery after
grazing. It seems to stand up fairly well for winter grazing. This
species will decrease under grazing use.

##### Seeds and Plant Production {#seeds-and-plant-production .Header-3}

*Seed production*: Seed yields from green needlegrass fields vary from
about 125 lb/ac on dry land to more than 250 lb/ac for irrigated fields.
Older references indicate that this species can be grown in either rows
or in a solid seeding. Studies have shown that seed dormancy in this
species is inversely related to maturity. This can be critical since
seed in the lower panicle is still immature when that in the upper
branches has ripened and started to shatter. The difference of a few
days in harvest date can make a difference in amount of seed dormancy.
Harvest should begin when the majority of the seed heads are black, or
at the first sign of shattering. Seed harvest must be timed carefully to
avoid excesses in both shattering and immaturity. Seed ripens from late
June to mid-July. If seed is harvested with a seed stripper, more than
one pass can be made through the field. Once harvested, the seed should
be processed to remove awns. This will make the seed much more flowable
through a drill.

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

Many older references mention a variety of green needlegrass named
**'Green Stipa.'** This variety is no longer available, and was replaced
by **'Lodorm,'** which was released by the Montana, North Dakota and
South Dakota Experiment Stations, along with the Plant Science Research
Division of the Agricultural Research Service, Mandan, North Dakota.
Lodorm originates from a bulk collection made in a native stand north of
Bismarck, North Dakota, in 1935. It is a heterogeneous population of
highly self-pollinated individuals. It was selected for low seed
dormancy after harvest. Seed is commercially available, and the USDA,
NRCS Plant Materials Center, Bismarck, North Dakota, maintains
Foundation seed.

**'AC^TM^ Mallard'** was developed as a northern hardy ecovar of green
needlegrass for use in western Canada. Seed is available from Proven
Seed/Agricore United.

**'Cucharas** **Germplasm'** was released in 2003 for use in the central
Great Plains. It shows an improvement in germinability over Lodorm. Seed
is available from the Utah Crop Improvement Association.

##### References {#references .Header-3}

Alderson, J. and W.C. Sharp. 1994. *Grass varieties in the United
States.* Agricultural Handbook No. 170. USDA, SCS, Washington, D.C.

Bergman, H.F. 1912. *Flora of North Dakota.* North Dakota Soil and
Geological Survey, Bismarck.

Clarke, S.E., J.A. Campbell and W. Shevkenek. 1950. *The identification
of certain native and naturalized grasses by their vegetative
characters.* Publication No. 762. Department of Agriculture, Canada.

Johnson, J.R. and G.E. Larson. 1999. *Grassland plants of North Dakota
and the Northern Great Plains.* Bulletin 566 (rev.). South Dakota State
University, Brookings.

Larson, K.L. and J.F. Carter. 1970. Lodorm green needlegrass -- A new
variety for revegetating rangeland. *North Dakota Farm Research* 27:
6-8. Fargo.

Sedivec, K.K. and W.T. Barker. n.d. *Selected North Dakota and Minnesota
range plants.* EB-69. North Dakota State University Extension Service,
Fargo.

Smith, S.R. and S. Smith, editors. n.d. *Native grass seed production
manual.* USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Ducks Unlimited
Canada, Manitoba Forage Seed Association, University of Manitoba,
Winnipeg.

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

*Michael Knudson*

USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center, Bismarck, North Dakota

##### Edited:27Jun2005 MJK; 28Jun2005 RLN; 060802 jsp {#edited27jun2005-mjk-28jun2005-rln-060802-jsp .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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