Annual Ryegrass Lolium multiflorum
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- LOW-lee-um mul-tih-FLOR-um
- Description
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Annual ryegrass is a winter annual or biennial weed in the grass family native to Europe. It is found in all areas of NC.
Annual ryegrass should be used as turfgrass only when a temporary turf cover is needed in the winter. It is never recommended for permanent lawn mixtures because it dies in late spring when temperatures approach 80ºF or higher. It is sometimes found in inexpensive commercial seed mixtures, and those should be avoided. It is a weed in tall fescue lawns. Because annual ryegrass is an annual, it must be reseeded each fall. Annual ryegrass has been used by some homeowners to overseed bermudagrass lawns to provide winter color. It is never recommended for overseeding other warm-season grasses.
Annual ryegrass is also used in farming as a cover crop and for silage. It can become invasive in temperate climates in agricultural areas and in native habitats.
It grows 2 to 3 feet tall with numerous long, narrow, stiff leaves near the base of the plant. Both surfaces of the leaves are bright, glossy, and smooth. A flowering spike, 6 to 10 inches long, forms with alternate spikelets. Blooming can occur spring to fall. Upon maturity, each fertile floret is replaced by an elongated grain.
It prefers rich, moist soils in areas with mild climates but is adaptable to other soils. It does not survive harsh winters or hot dry summers.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Lolium
- Species:
- multiflorum
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Biennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe
- Distribution:
- Throughout USA and worldwide.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 2 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 8 in. - 0 ft. 10 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Turfgrass
- Weed
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Winter
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Spike with spikelets.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- 2-3 feet long narrow shiny green leaves are sharp-pointed, with a bright green, dull upper surface, deeply ridged, lower surface smooth, glossy and slightly creased, with smooth edges.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Foot Traffic
- Problems:
- Weedy
