Texas Wintergrass

Native winter grass, good forage, primarily because it is green and succulent during the winter when most other native grasses are dormant. Its foliage will disintegrate rapidly at the end of the growing season, which will make it a poor grass for soil protection.

Aslo called Texas tussockgrass and Speargrass. (Stipa Leucotricha)

Uses

Livestock: As mentioned one of the few native winter grasses.

Erosion Control: As metioned its foliage will disntegrate at the end of the growing season, however it is fairly growing and one of the few Native winter grasses. For this reason it is being specified as a native winter grass.

Management: This grass is best managed for winter grazing. To prevent seed from injuring sheep and contaminating wool, remove the sheep for 2 to 3 weeks until seed ripen and fall to the ground. For maximum production, no more than 50 percent of current year’s growth by weight should be removed by grazing. Periodic grazing deferments during growing season allow plants to remain vigorous and produce a seed crop.

Establishment: Most rapid growth in early fall before the cold weather. It will continue to stay green as it grows throughout the winter and spring until June. It often becomes dormant during the hot summer. It reproduces from seed. New plants are also established from cleistogenes (seed produced in the axil of the lower sheath and stem). Awns on the seed twist and untwist as moisture changes. This characteristic and the needlelike end that holds the seed assist in planting the seed. The seed also becomes attached to the hair and wool of grazing animals, which help distribute them. It grows best on deep loam soils.