Min. to Max. Annual Precipitation
44in.
Average Max. Height
A high yielding, high quality, long-lived, late maturing orchard grass variety. Less clumping than other varieties. Bred primarily for quick re-growth and disease-free foliage. An ideal choice for grazing or hay. Recovers rapidly after grazing or mowing. It has demonstrated remarkable cold tolerance.
Crown Royale Orchardgrass is one of our most requested and is a top selling orchardgrass. It performs well in the high deserts of the Intermountain West.
Orchardgrass (Dactilis glomerata) is one of the most important one commonly used forage grasses in the world. It is a component of our Irrigated Pasture Mix and is frequently a core component of our custom seed mixes. Crown Royale orchardgrass is a high yielding, high quality, long-lived, late maturing orchard grass variety similar in maturity to Latar and Pennlate.
Crown Royale Orchardgrass is a bunch type grass but because of its increased tillering there is less clumping in the field – an attractive feature for pasture. Crown Royale was bred primarily for quick re-growth and disease-free foliage. It is an ideal choice for grazing or hay.
Crown Royale can be grown alone or with a legume and is an excellent choice for pasture, silage or hay. It recovers rapidly after grazing or mowing. In its maturity group it has yielded at or near the top in forage trials throughout many of the areas where cool season grasses are grown. It exhibits moderate drought tolerance and has proven to be highly palatable when grazed. It persists under continuous grazing. It has demonstrated remarkable cold tolerance.
Optimum soil pH for this grass is 6.0 or above it will tolerate soils with a pH of 5.5 to 8.0.
- Excellent Forage Yield
- Excellent Forage Quality
- Excellent Persistence
- Excellent Palatability
- Excellent Silage
- Excellent Hay
- Good Drought Tolerance
- Good Pasture
- Fair Moisture Tolerance
- Late Maturity
***Click on the “Quick Plant Facts” tab above for more information.
Available Orchardgrass Cultivars:
| Variety | Maturity | Notes: |
|---|---|---|
| Paiute | Early | Drought tolerant. Common in dryland pastures, reclamation, erosion control. |
| Hallmark | Early | High Yielding |
| Benchmark Plus | Early | Persists under heavy use, superior forage. Superior for grazing. |
| Potomac | Early-Mid | Excellent early variety. |
| Quickdraw | Early-Mid | Fast recover after cutting. Tolerates heat. |
| Extend | Mid | Ideal for alfalfa & clover mixes. Superior yield. |
| Blizzard | Mid-Late | Superior winter survival. Widely adapted, excellent forage yield. |
| Crown Royal | Late | Fast recovery after cutting, tolerates heat. |
| Latar | Late | No longer available. See Extend, Haymaster, Quickdraw |
| Haymaster | Late | Ideal for Alfalfa and Clover Mixes. Highly palatable, fast recovery. |
| Pawnee Orchardgrass | Medium | Widely adapted, drought and grazing tolerant. |
Crown Royale Orchardgrass GO Seed Brochure
Crown Royale Orchardgrass GO Seed Brochure
GO Seed PDF version
PENN STATE UNIVERSITY
Rock Springs, PA 2000
ORCHARDGRASS
(Dactylis glomerata)
Orchardgrass NRCS Plant Guide and Fact Sheet
Orchardgrass NRCS Plant Guide and Fact Sheet
PDF version of NRCS Plant Guide & Fact Sheet
Prepared By: Tony Bush USDA NRCS Rose Lake PMC East Lansing, Michigan
Dan Ogle USDA NRCS Idaho State Office Boise, Idaho
Loren St. John USDA NRCS Aberdeen PMC Aberdeen, Idaho
Mark Stannard USDA NRCS Pullman PMC Pullman, Washington
Dr. Kevin B. Jensen USDA ARS Forage and Range Research Laboratory, Utah State University, Logan, Utah
Species Coordinator: Mark Stannard USDA NRCS Pullman Plant Materials Center
Pullman, Washington
ORCHARDGRASS
(Dactylis glomerata)
Orchardgrass Variety Trial 2005
Orchardgrass Variety Trial 2005
Research in the Klamath Basin
Prepared By: Richard J. Roseberg and Jim E. Smith
ORCHARDGRASS
(Dactylis glomerata)
Orchardgrass Hay Production Guide for the Columbia Basin of Washington
Orchardgrass Hay Production Guide for the Columbia Basin of Washington
Prepared By: John L Kugler, WSU Grant/Adams County Extension
ORCHARDGRASS
(Dactylis glomerata)
Orchardgrass NRCS Plant Materials Technical Note
Orchardgrass NRCS Plant Materials Technical Note
An introduced Conservation Grass for Use in Montana and Wyoming
Prepared By: Roger M. Hybner, Research Agronomist, NRCS, Plant Materials Center, Bridger, Montana
Susan Winslow, Agronomist, NRCS, Plant Materials Center, Bridger, Montana
Helpful Links
Additional information about this product can be found on the academic websites linked below.
Synonyms
Many plants have more than one common and scientific name. We've listed a few of them below.
- Crown Royale Orchardgrass
- Dactylis glomerata
Who is Great Basin Seed?
Great Basin Seed is a seed company that specializes in seed sales and consultation for home, ranch, farm, range and reclamation. We have been a leader in the seed industry since 1974.
Right: Company founder Lloyd and his wife Paula Stevens in a wildflower seed production field circa 1977
Quick Plant Facts
| Common Name: | Crown Royale Orchardgrass |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name: | |
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| Plant Type: | |
| pH Tolerance: | |
| Seed Count | 540,000 |
| Root Form | Sodformer |
| Sowing Rate | 2-4 PLS lbs. per Acre |
| Min. Precipitation | 16 Inches Minimum |
| Best Sowing Time | Fall or Spring |
| Max Sowing Depth: | |
| Growth Season: | |
| Sun & Shade Tolerance: | Full sun, tolerates shade |
| Elevation of Occurance: | |
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