Common bermudagrass can be established by planting seed, but the common types are usually more susceptible to leaf diseases and are not particularly well suited for use in Florida. The stargrasses are related to the bermudagrasses and are adapted only to south-central Florida. Three cultivars - Ona, Florona, and Florico are recommended. These grasses are very productive when grown under high fertility. It should be noted that the potential for prussic acid poisoning does exist with stargrasses.
Chinch bug is a serious pest on sandy soils.
Floralta is the recommended cultivar, but no horse performance information is currently available. Callide Rhodesgrass is adapted to southern Florida. Little information is available, but it should tolerate controlled grazing by horses. Suerte is a new grass. It may tolerate light grazing by horses but should not be used as a general horse pastures.