Cool Season v Warm Season |
Drought tolerant landscapes are a game of "right plant, right place." Using the right turfgrass for your application. Find turfgrass cultivars by species, producer, or even installation type. Our interactive maps help you find the TWCA member that best fits your needs. |
Turfgrass species best established in fall seasons and producing most of their growth from late spring to mid-fall. Most cool season turfgrasses experience a period of natural dormancy during the hottest periods of the year. Most typically C3 photosynthetic, cool-season grasses thrive between 60-75⁰F (16-24⁰C). Common species include Kentucky bluegrass (Poa praetensis), tall Fescue, (Festuca arundicea) and perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne.)
Qualified cultivars are available in the following species:
Qualified cultivars are available in the following species:
Turfgrass species best established in spring seasons and producing most of their growth during the warmest parts of the year. Most typically C4 photosynthetic, warm-season grasses thrive between 75-95⁰F (24-35⁰C). Common species include bermudagrass (Cynodon sp.) and Zoyziagrass (Zoyzia sp.)
Species |
Single species evaluation makes for meaningful comparisons. Comparing water use within a species allows turf managers, homeowners, and governments to use the most drought tolerant turfgrass available for a specific application. While some species thrive in a trafficked area with full sun (Perennial ryegrass and Kentucky bluegrass are excellent examples) others (fine fescues) would almost certainly die quickly in such environments.
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fINE fESCUES
A multi-species category, Fine Fescues encompasses several species including Chewings, Hard, Sheeps, Strong Creeping Red, and Slender Red Fescues. Fine Fescues are primarily used in blends and are rarely seen as individual cultivars. When maintained for drought, Fine Fescues do best in lower maintenance scenarios with longer cut heights and less traffic.
Festuca brevipila
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4HES Hard
Bighorn GT |
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Cultivar name
Nanook |
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Cultivar name
Viking H2O |
Kentucky bluegrasses
Poa pratensis L.
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Cultivar name
Desert Moon
Full Moon
Sonora
Desert Moon
Tirem |
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Cultivar name
Artesia
Bedazzled
Full Moon
WaterWorks |
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Cultivar name
Diva |
Perennial RyegrassES
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lolium perenne
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Fast germination and aggressive growth make Perennial Ryegrass popular on playing fields and in high traffic turf applications like public parks. Found through most of the cool season turf range, Perennial Ryegrass is also used to overseed warm season turf. |
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Cultivar name
Reservoir
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Cultivar name
Gray Hawk
Pacifico
Sun Hawk
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Cultivar name
Manhattan 5
Manhattan 7
Rainwater PR
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Cultivar name
Deschutes
Molalla
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Tall fescues
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Festuca arundinacea
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Tall Fescue is a hardy and adaptable species of cool season turf that is well known for drought tolerance. A versatile, durable turf, with good drought tolerance; Tall Fescues are found through most of the cool season turf range and provide an alternative to warm season turf in many areas. |
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Cultivar name
GLX Aced
GLX Star
Lifeguard
Raindance
Relentless
Saltillo
Sun Fire
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Cultivar name
Thunderstruck
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TMI
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Cultivar name
2nd Millennium
Aquavita
Bonsai 2x
Relentless
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Cultivar name
Amity
Renegade DT
Zigzag
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