Orchardgrass
Dactylis glomerata · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Pasture/Forage Grass, Invasives/Weed, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common wild-type forage variety
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 9. Excellent cold tolerance. Good heat and humidity tolerance compared to other cool-season forage grasses, performing well in transition zones.
About This Grass
Forms coarse, dense, upright clumps with folded, blue-green to pale green leaves. Can grow 2 to 4 feet tall when unmowed. Characterized by flattened stems at the base and distinctive dense, one-sided cluster seed heads (panicles) resembling a collection of glomerules.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are medium to wide (3-8 mm), flat, tapered to a pointed tip, and folded in the bud (vernation). Color is distinctive blue-green or light gray-green. Ligule is prominent, membranous, and often jagged or torn. Auricles are absent. The collar is broad and continuous.
Root System
Deep, fibrous root system extending up to 3 to 4 feet into the soil. Low thatch tendency. Establishes relatively quickly from seed, providing good drought resistance once mature due to depth, but lacks spreading structures like rhizomes.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe, temperate Asia, and northern Africa; widely naturalized throughout North America, temperate South America, and parts of Australia and New Zealand
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming), growing in distinct, dense tussocks or clumps without aggressive stolons or rhizomes
Sunlight & Water Needs
Thrives in full sun to partial shade; moderately shade-tolerant compared to other cool-season grasses. Moderate to high water requirements during active growth, though deep roots provide fair drought tolerance. Prefers well-drained loamy soils but adapts to a wide range of soil pH (5.5 to 7.5).
Mowing & Maintenance
For pasture use, grazed or cut down to 3-4 inches; for lawns (where it is often considered a weed), requires frequent mowing at 2.5-3.5 inches. Moderate fertilization needed for optimal forage yield. Low maintenance when used in pastures, high maintenance if trying to eradicate from fine turf.
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance within clumps, excellent drought recovery due to deep roots. Highly palatable and nutritious livestock forage when kept vegetative, but becomes coarse and unpalatable as it matures. Considered a weed in fine turfgrass lawns due to its lighter color, coarse texture, and clump-forming habit.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America. Provides good wildlife cover and nesting sites for ground birds, and valuable forage for grazing livestock and wild herbivores. Can become invasive in native woodlands, prairies, and open forests by outcompeting native vegetation.