Our cultivars are selected for top scoring turf quality and color in at least one climate. Most also top the charts for several secondary metrics like disease performance, traffic & wear, 5-year poa annua invasion, low input performance & self repair.

 See images (full-sized screen recommended) to view our National Turfgrass Evaluation Program performance summaries.  NTEP is the gold standard of grass seed testing.  Be advised that secondary performance metrics (like self-repair or disease performance or poa annua invasion after ≈5 years) on the Specialty Performance Data spreadsheet should only be considered after zooming in on regional turf quality and color.

MYSTIQUE

Mystique is perhaps the most elite cultivar that made the cut to be tested on the most recently completed NTEP trial.  With top 3% performance in areas with cold winters, top 5% performance in the Pacific NW, top 1% performance in the Northeast (60/30/10 Score™), this is one cultivar with reliable top 5% performs almost everywhere.  It tied for 3rd for schedule A quality (of 114 cultivars tested) and it tied for 4th for schedule B quality on NTEP.

Color - Fertilized Loactions (CA7, IA1, IL1, MN1, NE1, NJ2, VA1 & OR1): Top 5%

Traffic & Wear Score™: Top 2%

Disease Score™ (Table 33-37 diseases... ICV weighted average): Top 12%

Divot Recovery or "spread trait" (KY): Top 3%

Low Input Score™ (60% based off Utah drought testing... see Specialty Performance Data spreadsheet for full formula): Top 2%

Poa annua invasion after ≈5 years in the Northeast (NJ): 0.0%... tied for 1st (only 7 cultivars achieved a perfect 0.0%)

REVENGE 2GLX (specialty cultivar... Pacific NW)

Revenge 2GLX ranked #1 in the Pacific NW out of 114 cultivars tested for turf quality (Corvallis, OR - NTEP)  and it tied for 3rd for color in Oregon.  Easily our #1 pick for the Pacific NW.

Pacific NW Color (Corvallis, OR): 7.5 / 9.0... only 2 cultivars scored higher for color and those 2 cultivars have notably poor turf quality.

Traffic & Wear Score™: Top 9%

Disease Score™ (Table 33-37 diseases... ICV weighted average): Top 11%

Divot Recovery or "spread trait" (KY): Top 39%

Low Input Score™ (60% based off Utah drought testing... see Specialty Performance Data spreadsheet for full formula): Top 19%

Poa annua invasion after ≈5 years in the Northeast (NJ): 1.7%... tied for 8th of 114

 

SR4750

SR4750 is elite in a lot of ways but it shines in the extremes - with top 10% quality and color in Minnesota (where the average January low is 6ºF) and the 2nd best 70/20/10 Score™ in fertilized locations in the eastern Transition Zone (where disease pressure is very high).  This cultivar looks impressive in the secondary performance traits (and it is), but turf quality is king... it is recommended that climate specific turf quality be the first metric to consider.

Color - Fertilized Loactions (CA7, IA1, IL1, MN1, NE1, NJ2, VA1 & OR1): Top 4%

Traffic & Wear Score™: Top 11%

Disease Score™ (Table 33-37 diseases... ICV weighted average): Top 4%

Divot Recovery or "spread trait" (KY): Top 1%

Low Input Score™ (60% based off Utah drought testing... see Specialty Performance Data spreadsheet for full formula): Top 39%

Poa annua invasion after ≈5 years in the Northeast (NJ): 0.0%... tied for 1st (only 7 cultivars achieved a perfect 0.0%)

 

ZOOM 2

Zoom 2 gets more competitive the hotter it gets and it has impressive secondary performance metrics as well.  Ranked top 5% for quality on our Northeast NTEP spreadsheet (NJ + IL + VA, ICV weighted average) and top 3% quality on our Transition Zone spreadsheet (VA + KY, ICV weighted average) with top 11% for color in NJ + IL (ICV weighted average).  Strong disease performance including a near top gray leaf spot rating of 8.3 out of 9.0.

Color - Fertilized Loactions (CA7, IA1, IL1, MN1, NE1, NJ2, VA1 & OR1): Top 9%

Traffic & Wear Score™: Top 4%

Disease Score™ (Table 33-37 diseases... ICV weighted average): Top 4%

Zoom 2's Divot Recovery or "spread trait" (KY): Top 4%

Low Input Score™ (60% based off Utah drought testing... see Specialty Performance Data spreadsheet for full formula): Top 21%

Poa annua invasion after ≈5 years in the Northeast (NJ): 3.3%... tied for 21st of 114

SLUGGER 3GL

Slugger 3GL is a high performer almost everywhere, but we stock it specifically for its elite performance in the east.  It ranked #1 in fertilized NTEP locations in the Northeast for turf quality (NJ + VA + IL, ICV weighted average) and it ranked #2 overall in the Northeast based on 60% quality, 30% color, and 10% cumulative disease performance in the NE (60/30/10 Score™).  Tied for 2nd for gray leaf spot performance out of 114 cultivars tested (8.7 / 9.0).

Fertilized Northeast Locations Color (NJ + IL, ICV WT Avg.): Top 9%

Traffic & Wear Score™: Top 10%

Disease Score™ (Table 33-37 diseases... ICV weighted average): Top 10%

Divot Recovery or "spread trait" (KY): Bottom 44%

Low Input Score™ (60% based off Utah drought testing... see Specialty Performance Data spreadsheet for full formula): Top 3%

Poa annua invasion after ≈5 years in the Northeast (NJ): 3.3%... tied for 21st of 114

PORTFOLIO (specialty cultivar... East)

Portfolio is a cultivar that really shines in the east.  It tested as very solid for turf quality in fertilized eastern NTEP locations but what distinguishes it from some of our other top performers in the east is it's slightly elevated color ratings... ranking #4 for color in fertilized eastern NTEP locations.  Tied for 2nd for gray leaf spot performance out of 114 cultivars tested.

Fertilized locations Northeast Color (NJ + IL, ICV Weighted Average): Top 4%

Traffic & Wear Score™: Top 36%

Disease Score™ (Table 33-37 diseases... ICV weighted average): Top 15%

Divot Recovery or "spread trait" (KY): Bottom 19%

Low Input Score™ (60% based off Utah drought testing... see Specialty Performance Data spreadsheet for full formula): Top 5%

Poa annua invasion after ≈5 years in the Northeast (NJ): 3.3%... tied for 21st of 114

 

UMPQUA (Specialty cultivar... cold winters)

Umpqua is a cultivar that would get missed by most... who selects rye for cold weather performance?  Umpqua ranked #1 for turf quality in fertilized locations in the North Central region (Iowa + Minnesota, ICV weighted average) and it also scored an impressive top 4% color (Iowa + Minnesota, ICV weighted average).  Umpqua has weak secondary performance metrics, but turf quality is the true measure of actual performance... many secondary metrics were tested in different climates.  Quality is king and Umpqua is king in the cold.

Cold area color (IA + MN, ICV weighted average): Top 4%

Traffic & Wear Score™: Bottom 48%

Disease Score™ (Table 33-37 diseases... ICV weighted average): Top 40% of all cultivars tested.

Divot Recovery or "spread trait" (KY): Top 12%

Low Input Score™ (60% based off Utah drought testing... see Specialty Performance Data spreadsheet for full formula): Top 64%

Poa annua invasion after ≈5 years in the Northeast (NJ): 6.7%... tied for 45th of 114

 

See images for recommended seed rates and seeding tips.

 

See spreadsheets (per images) for greater detail including formulas, locations, NTEP table numbers, etc.  Main reference: NTEP Perennial Ryegrass 2017-2021 Final Report from the most recently concluded NTEP trial.  Some calculations (Disease Score™, Traffic & Wear Score™, Low Input Score™, 60/30/10 Score™, etc.) are supplemental data based on NTEP data but intended to be as user friendly as possible.  These terms and concepts are property of SEED-BOSS LLC.

 

Disclaimer: Seed-Boss makes no guarantee of performance in your climate or under your management practices.  If the grass seed does not germinate the buyer acknowledges improper seed to soil contact, improper soil moisture during germination phase, and/or inappropriate soil temperatures and agrees to not blame the seed (since seed was tested as good).

If you notice anything inaccurate or that could be improved for accuracy, please email us at support@seed-boss.com.  Our aim is the highest degree of accuracy possible and that process includes peer review.