OREGON ORCHARDGRASS

Orchardgrass is native to Europe but has been grown in the U.S. since the early 1800's. The first record of orchardgrass in the U.S. was of plants growing in an orchard on the Henshaw farm in Orange County, Virginia. Seed from this orchard field was planted on a farm in Oldham County, Kentucky by Mr. Phillip Henshaw in 1830. Seed from that field was planted on other farms and Oldham County, Kentucky was a major commercial orchardgrass seed producing area for many years. Today 97 percent of the orchardgrass seed produced in the U.S. is grown in the Willamette Valley of Oregon.

Primary location: Salem United States