Gatton Panic Grass

We recommend Gatton Panic Grass. It is a deep-rooted bunch grass that is persistent in dry conditions once established, and it responds quickly after rain. Its roots are concentrated in the upper soil layers, so it makes good use of light showers. It performs best where there is some summer rainfall and needs pH 5 or higher.

Gatton Panic Grass is tolerant of shade, so it is a good choice for paddocks with scattered trees or shelter belts. It has broad, long, dark green leaves and better palatability than green panic. It suits well-drained soils but will perform on other soils with good fertility, and it is summer active wherever soil moisture is available.

We recommend sowing Gatton Panic Grass with other sub-tropical grasses, as it can be hard to get enough plants on its own. Sow 4 to 8 kg/ha of our coated seed in early spring as soils warm, into a fine, firm seedbed. Manage the first summer carefully so enough plants survive into the following year.

Yes, Gatton Panic Grass can be grown on lighter soils, but it needs good soil nutrition to persist there. It is versatile and also grows on heavy grey or brown soils and scrub loams. We suggest a soil test before sowing and a fertiliser plan to maintain fertility. It suits pH 5 or higher and 300mm or more of rain.

Gatton Panic Grass is sensitive to frost, so it is best kept to warmer districts. It is suited to well-drained soils, and our 2026 guide says it does not tolerate waterlogging, although an older catalogue entry lists waterlogging tolerance. If your paddock gets wet, talk to us first. For wetter ground, our Callide Rhodes Grass is a better option.

Gatton Panic Grass is quick to respond after the first autumn rains and after light showers, because its roots sit in the upper soil layers. It is summer active where soil moisture is available and stores more of its carbohydrates in the upper part of the plant, where stock can eat them. Rotational grazing gets the best production from it.

Being deep-rooted, Gatton Panic Grass can handle reasonable grazing pressure, but we recommend rotational grazing for the best production. Wait 8 to 10 months after sowing, or until plants are going reproductive, before the first grazing. Then graze from 25 to 30cm down to a residue of 12 to 15cm, and do not overgraze over summer.

Many tropical grasses, including panic types, can contain oxalates, which can affect calcium uptake in horses grazing them for long periods. For horse paddocks we suggest sowing Gatton Panic Grass as part of a mix rather than on its own, such as our Northern Perennial Pasture Mix. Talk to your vet about mineral supplements, and keep horses off until plants are well anchored.

We suggest adding Gatton Panic Grass. It is a useful addition to Rhodes grasses in mixtures, establishes more easily than other panic grasses and can give very good first-year production. It is a bunch grass, so it pairs well with stoloniferous Rhodes grasses such as Finecut and Katambora. Sow the mix at 4 to 8 kg/ha in early spring.

Choose Gatton Panic Grass for well-drained soils, shaded areas and places where fast response to summer rain matters. Choose one of our Rhodes grasses for waterlogged, saline or frost-prone paddocks, or where you need ground cover. Gatton is a deep-rooted bunch grass and Rhodes grasses spread by stolons, which is why we often recommend sowing both together.