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Oklahoma State University unveiled its new Bermudagrass variety, Endarra 81, which is heading into commercial production and combines exceptional drought resistance with deep, resilient roots, positioning OSU’s turfgrass improvement team to introduce the variety to homeowners.
“Endarra 81 represents exactly the kind of forward thinking innovation that defines OSU Ag Research. Our turfgrass team continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible, not only strengthening the economic vitality of Oklahoma’s green industries but also addressing one of the most urgent challenges facing communities across the country — water conservation,” said Scott Senseman, associate vice president of OSU Ag Research.
Indarra is a Basque word meaning strength, and specific regions in Spain and France use the name Endara, meaning endurance. The Spanish word tierra means terrain, and the 81 represents the last two digits in the experimental ID, OSU2081, the name OSU’s turfgrass team knew and used for years.
The new variety is built on strong drought resistance and water conservation, and the endurance of OSU’s turfgrass team over 11 years of research brought the variety to life, according to the university.
“Patience is important for many things, especially for plant breeding,” said Yanqi Wu, a Regents professor in plant breeding and genetics in the OSU Department of Plant and Soil Sciences. “We developed the parents, then we made crosses, did initial screenings, worked in the greenhouses and then went out into the field for evaluations. It all took time.”
OSU’s premier Bermudagrass is ideal for residential lawns, according to the team.
“Endarra 81 shows how strategic, science-driven plant breeding can deliver real solutions for homeowners, industry partners and states where every gallon of water matters. This is the kind of impact we strive for: research that improves lives and safeguards natural resources for the future,” Senseman said.
Drought resistance is the crowning achievement of Endarra 81.
“Endarra 81 is the most drought-resistant grass available in the market,” said Mingying Xiang, an assistant professor and OSU Extension turf specialist in the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture.
That exceptional drought resistance starts in the roots. Endarra 81 has a dense root network full of thicker and finer roots. The fatter roots bury deep into the soil, while the finer roots capture water in the soil particles. It’s an essential combination that was purposefully developed for this variety.
“These roots can go deep into the soil, tap into more water, allowing us to conserve irrigation water,” Wu said.
Beyond drought resistance, Endarra 81 has a darker color than most Bermudagrasses, sustaining its color later in the season than other varieties, according to the university. It also springs up earlier in the year, maintaining good quality for most of the calendar year.
Endarra 81 has shown strong resistance to leaf spot, a notorious disease in Bermudagrasses, which causes brown, black or tan lesions on blades of grass. Endarra 81 also produces very few seedheads — better than some industry standard varieties.
“We’re not focused on only one trait,” Xiang said. “Normally, we will balance multiple traits to make it a good grass.”
Funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Special Crop Research Initiative, the U.S. Golf Association, the Meibergen Family Professorship and OSU Ag Research contributed to the development of Endarra 81.
After more than a decade of work, Endarra 81 made its way to sod farms. Sod Production Services is the licensing agent of Endarra 81. It is currently grown at sod farms in Oklahoma, California, Texas, Georgia and Virginia and is expected to be more widely available to homeowners in 2027.
Because it cannot make viable seed, the grass is established vegetatively using sod. No seeds can be purchased. Consumers wanting Endarra 81 will need to buy it from a sod farm.
