Garden Performance of Napier Grass Cultivars At Three Locations In Texas

Fifteen vegetatively propagated cultivars of Napier grass (crosses between Pennisetum purpureum, P. glaucum, and P. squamulatum) from a breeding program at the University of Georgia, both named and experimental, were examined at three locations in Texas for garden performance.  Locations were College Station (30.61N 96.32W; USDA Hardiness Zone 8B), Lubbock (33.57N 101.80W; USDA Hardiness Zone 7A), and Overton (32.29N 94.95W; USDA Hardiness Zone 8A).  Soils and rainfall also varied between locations with a Boonville Series Fine Sandy Loam and 97 cm per year in College Station, an Amarillo Fine Sandy Loam and 46 cm per year in Lubbock, and a Bowie Fine Sandy Loam and 114 cm per year in Overton.  All plants were planted in May 2010 into a field using 122 cm centers in the row.  Plants were drip irrigated as needed.  Garden performance based on growth and appearance was rated monthly and heights were measured during the latter part of the growing season at each location.  Performance differed by location.  Top performing cultivars at College Station were Tifton 11, Tifton 26, Tifton 40, and Tifton 125; Top performing cultivars at Lubbock were Tifton 6, Tifton 8, Tifton 12, Tifton 13, and Tifton 125; Top performing cultivars at Overton were Princess Caroline, Tifton 11, Tifton 40, Tifton 114, and Tifton 8.  Plants were taller in College Station and Overton than in Lubbock except for ‘Tifton 13’ which grew to a similar height at all three locations.  There was significant fungal leaf spotting on ‘Princess’ at Overton, but not at the other two locations.  Also at Overton and College Station only, there was significant grasshopper feeding on ‘Princess Molly’.  Flowering was not observed at any of the locations.  Performance of these Napier grass cultivars was generally outstanding at the three Texas locations and selections are anticipated that will become highly recommended landscape plants for this part of the U.S.  However, recommendations for cultivars may be determined by region.