One may be surprised to learn that bermudagrass and bahiagrass are NOT native to Texas much less to the United States. There are numerous species of grasses and forbs that can be utilized for forage throughout the state of Texas. Keep in mind as we select forages we need to be mindful of our production system goals, location (soil type and rainfall), and the nutrient needs of our livestock (and/or wildlife).
Indiangrass and Little bluestem. Photo courtesy of Jack LeClair
Many livestock producers are considering forage species and varieties that do not require as much fertilizer as bermudagrass. At the same time, many landowners have expressed interest in restoring native prairies for wildlife habitat enhancement. Native grasses are well adapted and quite persistent with good grazing management, but typically are not used for hay production. Natives grasses may require longer time to establish and are less tolerant of overstocking. If interested, check with your local county extension agent, NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service) personnel, or Texas Parks and Wildlife biologist to determine which species are best adapted to your location.
Some native grass species:
Little bluestem
Indiangrass
Eastern gamagrass
Switchgrass
Sideoats grama
Big bluestem
Some native forb species:
Maximillian sunflower
Engelmann daisy
Illinois bundleflower
Bush sunflower
Dr. Megan Clayton, Professor and Extension Range Specialist, has some excellent resources that can help guide the decision making process on the utilization of native forages.
Vanessa Corriher-Olson
Forage Extension Specialist
Soil & Crop Sciences
Overton, TX
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
Texas A&M University System