Author Archives: grasstalk

May 30 and suddenly summer! Well, finally after one of the worst winters in Minnesota. The Grass Trials, however, look good but are a bit slower than last year. No winter loss, and it looks like all are coming that … Continue reading →

This site contains information from 11 states that are trialing 22 cultivars and species of little bluestem and switchgrass. To find results from a specific state, type the state’s name in the Search box on the upper left of the … Continue reading →

Minnesota Data Oct 2013 Click on the above link for preliminary 2013 data from Minnesota. Good growth on most cultivars this year;  ‘Carousel’ little bluestem shown below.

Warrior (left), Thundercloud (center) and Cloud 9 in Minnesota in late September. Thundercloud and Cloud 9 are just over 2 meters tall.

A slow start and now a cooler summer in Minnesota for 2013. Here are the switchgrasses that are the best looking so far: Rotstrahlbusch; Prairie Sky, Cheyenne Sky,(pictured) a nice combo of purple and green and medium size; Prairie Fire, … Continue reading →

Spring has finally arrived in Minnesota. Several days of rain have helped plants to grow. Some green on little bluestem, see below,  in the National Grass Trials, but switchgrass has not started to grow. We should be able to burn … Continue reading →

Still cold and snow in Minnesota. The grass collection appears only to be hit by another snowstorm. We hope to burn off the plants next week, May 6 or so! Certainly a late spring! 

Summer and fall are OVER in Minnesota. We are trying not to think about what comes next. We had amazing growth on the switchgrass cultivars  planted this summer. We had plenty of heat and with supplemental water for the first … Continue reading →

Fall Color is one of the important characteristics we will be evaluating in these trials. One of the entries is the little bluestem ‘Minn Blue A’ better known as Blue HeavenTM, it’s blue in the summer, but red and burgundy … Continue reading →

Switchgrass and little bluestem are the focus of the first national grass trials. The Minnesota site shown below is open to the public at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.