Nezpar Indian Ricegrass

A widely adapted native grass of the intermountain west. Drought tolerant and found on most range sites. Grows at elevations between 3,000 and 10,000 feet and adapted to a wide variety of soils. Most frequently occurs in sandy, gravelly, and shallow soils, frequently found in dunes. Valuable grass for domestic livestock and big game animals. Excellent food source of high protein food for upland game birds. Highly valued for wildlife habitat improvement, disturbed sites, mine reclamation and range mixes.

Indian Ricegrass (Achnatherum hymenoides, Orzyopsis hymenoides) is the state grass of Utah. It is one of the more widely adapted native grasses of the intermountain west rangelands. Nezpar Indian Ricegrass is drought tolerant and found on most range sites, especially in coarse soils. It grows at elevations between 3,000 and 10,000 feet and is adapted to a wide variety of soils. It most frequently occurs in sandy, gravelly, and shallow soils in the upland and semi-desert climatic zones. It is also adapted to soils high in lime. It is moderately salt and alkali tolerant. It does not do well on wet or poorly drained soils. This species is an excellent choice for well drained, sandy soils and is frequently found in dunes and on sandy desert plains.

Indian Ricegrass (Orzyopsis hymenoides) is a key species on Utah foothills and semi-desert range. It is high in protein and is one of the more valuable grasses for domestic livestock and big game animals, providing excellent forage for spring and summer use. It is especially valuable for winter grazing because the plants cure well and lower plant parts remain somewhat green. Due to the abundance of plump, nutritious seed, it is an excellent food source for upland game birds, particularly mourning doves, pheasants and others. The seeds are high in protein.

Nezpar Indian Ricegrass is a very valued and desired species for wildlife habitat improvement, disturbed sites, mine reclamation and range mixes.

Indian Ricegrass is also know by the scientific synonyms Stipa hymenodies and Orzyopsis hymenoides. It was used by various Indian tribes to make flour.

Synonyms: Oryzopsis hymenoides, Stipa hymenoides, Achnatherum hymenoides

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Other Varieties: Paloma , Rimrock

Nezpar Indian Ricegrass: Desirable for physical plant characteristics and low seed dormancy. Very drought tolerant. Best adapted to coarse soils in regions that receive 8 to 14 inches annual precipitation. Establishes well on gravely/sandy soils on elevations above 5,000 ft. and north of 40 degrees latitude. At higher elevations (6,000 ft and above) where average annual temperature is 40° F or less, plantings should be restricted to south and west facing slopes or warm locations. Nezpar is short to medium lived growing 8 to 30 inches tall. The seed source for Nezpar was first collected in 1935 from a native plant community south of Whitebird in north central Idaho by the Pullman, Washington Plant Materials Center. Released 1978 by the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the University of Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station.