Winter Bentgrass
Agrostis hyemalis
- Native to:
- Aleutian Is., Canada, China, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, Russia, United States
iNaturalist: © thed (iNaturalist #118613336)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Genus:
- Agrostis
- Species:
- Agrostis hyemalis
- USDA Symbol:
- AGHY
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid
- Height:
- 80 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), Striped Garden Caterpillar Moth (Trichordestra legitima)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- moist, well-drained sandy loam
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates moderate drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Commonly found in meadows and open woods
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–28 days
- Notes:
- Requires light for germination; seeds should be surface-sown. Cool-season grass with best germination at 15-20°C.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: None required
Establishment: The species appears to be distributed throughout the Eastern half of the US and the Great Plains, preferring fairly wet soils. Seeds were collected in Natchez Trace Parkway. It is suggested that seeds probably require light for germination, however, no testing was done to determine this.
Source: npn.rngr.net