2021-22 Virginia Turfgrass Variety Recommendations

The Maryland-Virginia Turfgrass Variety Recommendation Work Group meets annually to consider the previous year’s data from Virginia and Maryland National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) and ancillary trials and to formulate these recommendations. Virginia and Maryland variety recommendations are essentially identical except for specialized grasses and research situations that differ due to adaptation and state regulation. To qualify for this recommended list turfgrass varieties: 1) must be available as certified seed or, in the case of vegetative varieties, as certified sprigs or sod; 2) must be tested at sites in both Virginia and Maryland; 3) must perform well, relative to other varieties, for a minimum of two years to make the list as a “promising” variety and for three years to make the “recommended” category. All test locations in Virginia and Maryland are considered in making these recommendations. The Virginia Crop Improvement Association (VCIA) will accept the turfgrass blends or mixtures listed below in the VCIA Sod Certification Program. All seed or vegetative material must be certified and meet minimum quality standards prescribed by the VCIA. Many seeding specifications (for municipalities, counties, state and governmental agencies, landscape architects, and professional organizations) state that varieties used for turfgrass establishment must come from this list and that blends or mixtures follow the guidelines for certified sod production. Specifications for state highway seeding can be developed separately and may require some species and/or varieties not normally recommended for uses other than roadside seeding. Seed availability may vary between turf seed suppliers. Some species and varieties may have limited adaptation.

Kentucky Bluegrass – Individual varieties selected must make up not less than 10%, nor more than 35% of the total mixture on a weight basis. All varieties must be certified. Selections can be made from Category I alone or various combinations of Categories I and II. Kentucky bluegrasses listed as “Promising” (Category II below) can account for no more than 35% of the blend by weight).

Category I – Recommended Kentucky Bluegrass Varieties (65–100% of blend by weight). After Midnight, Aries4, Bluebank4, Blue Coat, Blue Note, Bolt, Endurance, Full Back4, Hampton4, Legend, Midnight, Noble4, Selway, Shannon4, Skye, and SPF304.

Category II – Promising Kentucky Bluegrasses (10–35% on a weight basis). Amaze, Babe, Barserati, Barvette, Blue Devil, Blue Gem, Bombay, Cloud, Dauntless, Electric, Finish Line, Jersey, New Moon, Nurush, Orion, Pivot, Starr, Syrah, Twilight, United, Yellowstone, Volt1, and Wildhorse1. (Volt and Wildhorse are only for mixing with tall fescue for mixed species sod production).

Tall Fescue – Both recommended and promising varieties can be used in the VCIA Sod Certification Program.

Category I – Recommended Tall Fescue Varieties (90–100% on a weight basis). 4th Millennium SRP, Annapolis, AST 70034, AST 90024, Avenger II4, Birmingham, Black Tail, Bloodhound4, Bullseye, Catalyst, Crossfire 4, Fantasia, Fayette, Firebird 2, Firecracker SLS, Firewall4, Gazelle II4, Gold Medallion4, Grande 3, GTO, Guardian 41, Hemi, Houndog 84, Inferno4, Integrity4, Justice4, Lifeguard, Leonardo1, Maestro, Michelangelo, Moondance GLX, Mustang 44, Paramount, Penn RK44, Raptor III, Rebel IV4, Rebel V4, Rebel XLR4, Rebounder4, Reflection, Regenerate, Rendition RX4, Rockwell, Rowdy4, Saltillo4, Screamer LS, Spyder LS4, SR 8650, Standout, Sunset Gold4, Supersonic, Technique, Temple, Thor, Titanium 2LS, Titan Rx4, Trinity, Turbo4, Turbo RZ4, Turfway, Valkyrie LS, Wichita, and Xtremegreen4.

Category II – Promising tall fescue varieties (may be 90–100% of the mixture on a weight basis): Avenger III, Bonfire, Bravo 2, Bullseye LTZ, Degas, Dragster, Dynamite G-LS, Firecracker G-LS, Firenza II, GLX Aced, Monument, Naturally Green, OKeefe, Padre 2, Pro Gold, Raptor LS, Serenade, Spyder 2LS, Stealth, Symphony, Titanium G-LS, Xanadu, and Zion.

Kentucky bluegrass varieties recommended for mixing with tall fescue sod to enhance sod strength (10% standard, up to 15% of the seed mixture by weight is possible for certification): All cultivars in Categories I and II above.

Bermudagrass – Varietal differences in texture and winter hardiness are important considerations. If no notation follows the variety name this indicates it has performed in the top statistical category at both Blacksburg and Hampton Roads Agriculture Research and Extension Center in Virginia Beach. Varieties with the # are only recommended in Virginia’s warmest regions due to cold tolerance concerns.

Category I – Recommended vegetatively propagated bermudagrass varieties: Celebration#, Iron Cutter, Latitude 36, Northbridge4, Patriot, Tahoma 31, TifTuf (DT-1), and Tifway#.

Category II – Promising vegetatively propagated bermudagrass varieties: None at this time.

Category III - Recommended seeded bermudagrass varieties: Princess-77#,3.

Category IV – Promising seeded bermudagrass varieties: Arden 15, Monaco, Rio, and SWI-1070.

Zoysiagrass – (Varietal differences in texture and winter hardiness are important considerations.)

Category I – Recommended vegetatively propagated zoysiagrass varieties: Meyer and Zeon

Category II – Recommended seeded zoysiagrass varieties: Zenith4

Perennial Ryegrass – (not for use in sod production) Use certified seed.

Category I – Recommended perennial ryegrass varieties: Apple 3GL, Apple SGL, Benchmark, Fastball 3GL, Grand Slam GLD, Homerun, Karma, Slugger 3GL, Soprano, and Stellar 3 GL.

Category II – Promising perennial ryegrass varieties: Alloy, All Star Fore, Big League, Black Pearl, Evolve, Fiesta Cinco, Furlong, Gray Fox, Gray Wolf, Homerun LS, Infusion, Intense, Ivy, Paragon 2, Seabiscuit, Shield, Sideways, Signet, Silver Spot, Spike GLS, SR 4650, SR 4660ST, SR 4700, Stellar 4GL, Superstar GL, Umpqua, Wicked, and Xcelerator.

Fine Fescues – For general use in low maintenance areas or in partial to full shade. Promising varieties have limited performance data or availability as certified seed. Neither blending varieties nor mixing species have been studied extensively in MD or VA and limited research does not indicate any advantage to blending or mixing varieties from the different fine fescue species listed. Use only certified seed.

Creeping red fescue – Recommended varieties: None at this time. Promising: None at this time.

Chewings fescue – Recommended: Compass II, Radar. Promising: Momentum.

Hard fescue – Recommended: Beacon, Gladiator, Jetty, Minimus, Resolute, and Sword. Promising: None at this time.

Sheep fescue – Recommended or promising: None at this time.

Kentucky bluegrass varieties recommended for mixing with fine fescue sod to enhance sod strength (up to 10% of the seed mixture by weight): All cultivars from Kentucky bluegrass Categories I and II.

Varieties marked with superscript notations denote the following:

(1) to be considered for removal in 2022 due to declining performance relative to other varieties.

(2) to be considered for removal in 2022 due to declining seed quality.

(3) to be considered for removal in 2022 due to the absence of recent testing of certified seed lots in MD and VA.(4) to be considered for removal in 2022 due to lack of recent testing in MD and VA.