Min. to Max. Annual Precipitation
44in.
Average Max. Height
Latar Orchardgrass (dactilis glomerata) is a late maturing, hay-type forage production grass. This variety has abundant, broad, well distributed and noticeably light green leaves. Seed production is good. This is an excellent choice for blending with alfalfa.
Latar Orchardgrass (dactilis glomerata) is listed here for historical and agronomic reference. Great Basin Seed no longer stocks the Latar variety. Latar is an “old” late-maturing variety that is outperformed by new varieties with superior genetics and improved plant breeding.
Latar is still requested by a few advocates of the variety who have successfully used it for years – if not decades. We encourage these customers to try the new varieties and test their performance. We highly recommend the following varieties:
Extend Orchardgrass: A late maturing, persistent variety with excellent vigor. Excellent for pastures and alfalfa.clover mixes.
Haymaster Orchardgrass: A late maturing variety know for it’s fast recovery and high palatability.
Quickdraw Orchardgrass: Late maturing with fast recovery and heat tolerance. A favorite in the Intermountain West.
Latar Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata) is considered an “older” variety released officially to the US market in 1957. Despite market competition with a myriad of new “improved” varieties it continues to thrive as an excellent late maturing, hay-type forage production orchard grass.
This variety matures 10 to 14 days later than common orchardgrass and is usually in the pre-bloom stage when alfalfa is at the optimum growth stage for cutting hay. Therefore a mixture of Latar and alfalfa makes high quality hay. Forage yields of are at least as much per acre as the earlier maturing varieties and forage quality is generally superior.
It has low lignin (fiber) content and digestibility is very high. It is vigorous and high in vegetative production. Seed production is good. It is lowest among seven orchardgrass varieties in lignin content and significantly higher in digestibility. This is an excellent choice for blending with Alfalfa. It will not “head-out” before alfalfa is ready to cut because of it’s later maturity date.
Latar is a late maturing, hay-type orchardgrass. It blooms and matures seed on average of 10-14 days later than commercial varieties. This variety has abundant, broad, well distributed and noticeably light green leaves. It is vigorous and high in vegetative production. Seed production is good. It is lowest among seven orchardgrass varieties in lignin content and significantly higher in digestibility.
| 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. |
Additional Information
| Seed Count | 540,000 |
|---|---|
| Sowing Rate | 2-4 PLS lbs. per Acre |
| Best SowingTime | Fall or Spring |
| Min. Precipitation | 16 Inches Minimum |
| Root Form | Sodformer |