Orchardgrass is a popular hay and pasture grass in the US, but it is not native here. It arrived from Europe in the 1700s, now grows wild widely, and has become a weed in some areas of the eastern US. Look for its ball-like clusters of tiny flower heads and its flattened stem base. It is also called cocksfoot.
Appearance
- Growth form
- A cool-season perennial that grows in upright tufts, usually about 8 in–4.5 ft (20–140 cm) tall.
- Leaves
- Grayish to bluish-green blades about 8–20 in (20–50 cm) long, softer and more flexible than tall fescue's. The stem base and leaf sheaths are flattened.
- Flowers
- A branched flower head with bunched into dense clusters at the branch tips. It is green or tinged reddish-purple at first and fades to pale gray-brown as the seeds ripen.
Look-alikes
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- pastures and hayfields
- roadsides
- meadows
- disturbed ground
- Range
- Native to Europe, temperate Asia, and North Africa. Brought to North America in the 1700s and now widely naturalized; for example, it grows in all six New England states.
- Preferred conditions
- Prefers sunny, fertile ground but tolerates some shade and drought. It usually grows in upland, non-wetland spots.
Cautions
- Cautions
- Its wind-blown pollen is a cause of hay fever.
Name and classification
- About the name
- About 20 subspecies are recognized.
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed
Culture and stories
- Culture and stories
- Farmers value it for high yields and sugary leaves, but it needs steady grazing or cutting; left alone it turns coarse and less palatable.
- It is sometimes grown as cat grass for house cats to nibble.
More species to explore
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