Side-oats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) takes its name from its peculiar inflorescence. It grows a stalk varying in length from 3 to 16 inches and tending to zigzag. Somewhere between 12 and 60 very short branches grow from this stalk, dangling to one side. Each branch has three to eight spikelets resembling oat seeds, especially as […]
Ornamental Plants
Eastern Gamagrass
Eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides) is a tall bunchgrass species that ranges from four to eight feet in height. It forms clumps one to four feet across and connected with tough, knotty rhizomes. The roots extend as far as 20 feet below the surface of the ground. The plants are further anchored by corms—short, swollen stems […]
Buffalo Grass
Buffalo grass (Buchloe dactyloides) is characteristic of a shortgrass prairie plant, only reaching two to eight inches in height. It may grow upright, or its stems may lie on the ground and curl up toward the tips. They are slender and solid. The leaf blades are fine-textured, being less than 1/8 inch wide. They reach […]
Silver Bluestem
Attractive ornamental or pesky pasture invader? Silver bluestem excels in both roles.
Little Bluestem
Its wide distribution and importance to the prairie ecosystem have made little bluestem the state grass of Kansas.
Big Bluestem
Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) is one of the most iconic plants of the tallgrass prairie. Its sturdy, upright stems are usually covered with a blue, waxy coating, giving it its name. These stems grow in clumps and vary dramatically in height depending on the environment. Big bluestem can be a modest three feet tall, but […]
K-State Entomology Newsletter
What bad bugs are invading your area? The K-State entomology newsletter may have the answer. This newsletter keeps Kansans informed about the comings and goings of a wide range of insects of economic importance, particularly those that impact field crops. Pests of corn, soy, wheat, sorghum, sunflower, and alfalfa are regularly discussed. However, this newsletter […]
Foxtail Barley
Foxtail barley may be a native grass, and it may be attractive, but it poses serious health risks to pets and livestock.
3 Reasons to Mulch Your Garden
Organic gardeners have many good reasons to use mulch besides aesthetics. We’ll give you three.
How to Test Seed Germination Rates
Spring is only a month away, and with spring comes gardening season. Now is a good time to check the germination rates of those seeds you have stashed away in the basement—before you need to plant them! You Will Need Seeds. Paper towel. Large Ziploc bag. Instructions Lightly moisten a square of paper towel. (Take […]