Orchardgrass
Dactylis glomerata
- Native to:
- Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Austria, Azores, Baleares, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Is., China, Corse, Cyprus, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, East Aegean Is., Egypt, Finland, Føroyar, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Kriti, Krym, Lebanon-Syria, Libya, Madeira, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, North Caucasus, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Pakistan, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Sardegna, Sicilia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Taiwan, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
Didier Descouens
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Genus:
- Dactylis
- Species:
- Dactylis glomerata
- USDA Symbol:
- DAGL
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid
- Height:
- 120 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul,aug
- Bloom Colors:
- green
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★★★☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Aletia oxygala, American wainscot (Hydraecia immanis), Armyworm moth (Pseudaletia unipuncta), Asymmetrura graminivorella, bicolored sallow (Neleucania bicolorata), changeable grass-veneer (Fissicrambus mutabilis), Comma Leucania (Leucania commoides), Ctenucha rubroscapus, false wainscot (Leucania pseudargyria), Faronta albilinea, Faronta diffusa, Faronta tetera, Leucania adjuta, Leucania farcta, Leucania inermis, Leucania infatuans, Leucania insueta, Leucania latiuscula, Leucania linita, Leucania multilinea, Leucania phragmitidicola, Leucania pilipalpis, Leucania scirpicola, Leucania sp., stalk borer moth (Papaipema nebris), topiary grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia topiaria), Essex Skipper (Thymelicus lineola), Little Wood Satyr (Megisto cymela), Zabulon Skipper (Poanes zabulon)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from basal tillers after fire or mowing. Tolerates periodic burning in pasture management.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- fertile, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- thrives in open, sunny locations
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Germinates readily without pretreatment. Optimal soil temperature 15-25°C.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI