Winter Bentgrass

(Agrostis hyemalis)

Winter Bentgrass (Agrostis hyemalis)

aarongunnar

CC BY 4.0

Image By: aarongunnar

Recorded By:

Estimated Native Range

Summary

Agrostis hyemalis, commonly known as Winter Bentgrass, is a perennial grass that exhibits both deciduous and semi-deciduous characteristics, depending on the climate. It is native to moist meadows, wetlands, and riparian areas across the Eastern United States, the Caribbean, Mexico, Peru, the Russian Far East, and Eastern Asia. Winter Bentgrass typically reaches a height of 2 feet (0.6 meters) and a width of 1 foot (0.3 meters). It forms a tufted mound with fine-textured, narrow leaves and produces a cloud of delicate, airy flower panicles in the late spring to early summer. The flowers are not particularly showy but add a subtle texture to the landscape.

Winter Bentgrass is valued for its ability to thrive in wet conditions and is often used for erosion control along stream banks and in naturalized areas. It is also appreciated for its winter interest in the landscape, as the dried foliage and seed heads provide visual appeal during the colder months. In cultivation, it requires full sun to part shade and prefers consistently moist to wet soils with medium to slow drainage. While it is not typically grown for ornamental purposes, it can be used in rain gardens or as a low-maintenance ground cover in appropriate settings. Care should be taken as it can self-seed and spread, potentially becoming weedy in favorable conditions.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

Plant Type: Grass
Height: 2-3 feet
Width: 0.667-1 feet
Growth Rate: Moderate
Flower Color: N/A
Flowering Season: Spring, Summer
Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

Sun: Full Sun
Water: High
Drainage: Medium, Slow

Common Uses

Bank Stabilization, Border Plant, Deer Resistant, Erosion Control, Low Maintenance

Natural Habitat

native to moist meadows, wetlands, and riparian areas across the Eastern United States, the Caribbean, Mexico, Peru, the Russian Far East, and Eastern Asia

Other Names

Common Names: Tickle Grass, Hair Grass, Small Bent, Hairgrass, Ticklegrass, Winter Bent, Winter Bentgrass, Winter-Straußgras, Agrostide D’Hiver, Klein Struisgras

Scientific Names: , Agrostis nutkaensis, Agrostis hyemalis, Agrostis hyemalis var. hyemalis, Agrostis geminata, Agrostis scabra var. geminata, Agrostis hyemalis var. geminata, Agrostis antecedens, Agrostis scabra f. tuckermanii, Agrostis aphanes

GBIF Accepted Name: Agrostis hyemalis (Walter) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb.