Lesson 2. Plant Species Selection — Appendix A

Characteristics of Forages

Species Regrowth
Potential		 Legume
Compatibility		 Winter
Hardinessa		 Ease of
Establishment		 Drought
Tolerance		 Flooding
Tolerance		 Persistence
Cool-season grasses
Kentucky bluegrass Good Poor Excellent Good Fair Fair Good
Orchardgrass Excellent Poor Good Good Fair Fair Good
Perennial ryegrass Good Fair Poor Excellent Fair Fair Fair
Quackgrass Excellent Good Excellent N/A* Good Fair Excellent
Smooth bromegrass Fair Good Excellent Good Fair Fair Good
Tall fescue Excellent Good Fair Excellent Fair Fair Fair
Timothy Fair Good Excellent Good Poor Poor Poor
Warm-season annual grasses
Sorghum/sudan Good Poor N/A Excellent Excellent Fair N/A
Japanese Millett Good Poor N/A Excellent Excellent Fair N/A
Alternative Forages
Winter Rye N/A Good Good Good Good Poor N/A
Oats N/A Good Poor Good Good Poor N/A
Corn N/A Fair N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Brassicas Good Good N/A Good Fair Poor N/A
Regrowth
Potential		 Bloat
Problem		 Winter
Hardinessa		 Ease of
Establishment		 Drought
Tolerance		 Flooding
Tolerance		 Persistence
Legumes
Alfalfa Good yes Excellent Good Good Poor Good
Alsike clover1 Poor yes Good Excellent Poor Good Poor
Birdsfoot Trefoil Fair no Excellent Poor Poor Fair Excellent
Ladino Clover Poor yes Good Excellent Poor Good Poor
Red clover Fair yes Good Excellent Poor Fair Fair
Sweet clover Fair yes Good Fair Good Fair Poor
Dutch White Good no Excellent Good Good Fair Excellent

Source: Pastures for Profit
N/A = not applicable
aWinter hardiness assumes use of adapted varieties
*No seed available
1Not recommended for equines