Brewster Germplasm sideoats grama is the third new formal release of ecotypic plant material developed for West Texas by Texas Native Seeds. Brewster Germplasm sideoats grama was developed in collaboration with Sul Ross State University and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service E. “Kika” de la Garza and James E. “Bud” Smith Plant Materials Centers.

Sideoats grama is a warm season perennial bunchgrass found in various soil textures and ecological sites. Brewster Germplasm sideoats grama is recommended for upland wildlife plantings, highway rights of way revegetation, energy exploration reclamation, and for inclusion in range seeding mixes. It is often the dominant species of many desert grasslands and is one of Texas’ most important livestock forage plants.

• Brewster Germplasm is comprised of two accessions from an evaluation trial of 37 regionally harvested collections from across West Texas. The two selected accessions originate from Brewster and Terrell counties.

• This release is the third release from Texas Native Seeds developed specifically for grassland restoration projects in West Texas. It is one of the first West Texas specific plant releases in over 30 years.

• Based on collection site location and evaluation data, Brewster Germplasm sideoats grama will perform well in the Permian Basin, southern rolling and high plains, western Edwards Plateau, and Trans-Pecos region of West Texas.

• Douglass King Seed and Bamert Seed Company are producing Brewster Germplasm sideoats grama seed. It became commercially available in the summer of 2019.

Funding sources: Cooperative funding provided by the Texas Department of Transportation, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the multiple donors to Texas Native Seeds.