Development of plant materials adapted to the demands of a harsh envir
onment and conditions created by standard planting practices has resul
ted in improved seedling establishment for some species. Bluebunch whe
atgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata [Pursh] Love) is an important native
bunchgrass often planted in the Intermountain and Pacific Northwest re
gions. Though cultivars have been developed, this species continues to
have a reputation for weak seedlings. Forty-seven accessions of blueb
unch wheatgrass collected from naturally occurring populations in 9 ge
ographic regions and the cultivar 'Goldar' were evaluated for germinat
ion rate, seedling emergence and growth, and seed weight. Significant
differences in seed weight and germination rate at optimum (15/25-degr
ees-C) and cold (1-degrees-C) temperatures were observed. Seedling eme
rgence from a 4-cm depth ranged from 5 to 66%. Mean dry shoot weight 2
8 days after planting varied among accessions by a factor of 6. Simple
correlations between seed weight and percentage emergence (r = 0.62)
and seed weight and mean shoot weight (r = 0.63) indicate seed weight
could be used as a preliminary screening test for these traits. Seed w
eight was not useful in predicting germination rate. Results suggest e
stablishment success may be improved through careful selection for tra
its associated with seedling vigor.