orchardgrass

Family

Poaceae

Scientific Name

Dactylis glomerata

Other Common Names:

orchardgrass

Habit

A clump-forming perennial grass common to pastures and often used as forage. Orchardgrass can be a big problem in tall fescue lawns of residential areas established on existing pasture. In addition, orchard grass seed are grown for commercial forage production and often are found as a contaminate in turf-type tall fescue seed due to similar size and shape. Plants can grow to 2 to 4 ft tall but also tolerate mowing at typical lawn heights.

Leaves

Leaves are light green, folded into a V-shape at the base, have a prominent midrib along the underside, and margins that are rough to the touch. The ligule is a tall jagged membrane and plants lack auricles. Leaves are 10 to 13 inches long and 2 to 10 mm wide.

Identifying Characteristics

Leaves folded in the bud and ligule is tall, pointed and often jagged across the top. The seedhead is a panicle that is densely clustered with fan-shaped spikelets.

Flower Seed Head

Seedhead often borne on tall slender stalk to waist high and consist of a densely clustered panicle with fan-shaped green spikelets. Flowers late spring into early summer.