Maverick Germplasm Pink Pappusgrass (Pappophorum bicolor)

Makeup/history: Maverick Germplasm is a blend of seven accessions of pink pappusgrass, and will be released in the fall of 2009, by South Texas Natives, the South Texas Plant Materials Center and The Texas Agrilife Research Station in Beeville. Accessions comprising the blend were selected for seed production, plant vigor, and active seed germination. Maverick Germplasm pink pappusgrass is a native perennial bunch grass.

Use: Maverick Germplasm is recommended for upland wildlife planting and in range seeding mixes. Pink pappusgrass should perform well in rangeland plantings and wildlife habitat plantings. It has a fair forage value and has shown to be very drought tolerant. TXDOT has also said potential use in their plantings is high. Pink pappusgrass is seasonally competitive in areas dominated by non-native grasses.

Establishment: Maverick Germplasm should be planted at a rate of 3 lbs. pure live seed per acre for solid stands. It has also been planted in rowed planting using transplants. Pink pappusgrass is competitive with common weed species, fields have many volunteer plants emerging near them.