How to Grow and Care for Ryegrasses

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) is a plant species native to Eurasia. Perennial ryegrass is used in mixtures of lawn seed to feed cattle and to control erosion. Perennial ryegrass is also used to create turf for golf courses because of its hardiness. In countries where it's imported, this plant is often considered an invasive species.

Italian ryegrass is a tough, prolific annual grass. It is a sun-loving plant that prefers cool, moist weather, and grows best in moist, well-drained soil—including irrigated crop fields. It is often planted by farmers and ranchers as a quick-growing cover crop, for erosion control, and as a nutritious feed plant. It often spreads into grain fields not meant for feed, and is considered an invasive weed in many places.

Tall Fescue (Lolium arundinaceum) is a perennial grass that grows 61 to 122 cm high. Many people consider it an invasive species because it causes ecological problems in woodlands, savannas, and grasslands. This species is native to Eurasia and was brought over by early colonists for livestock grazing.

Darnel ryegrass (*Lolium temulentum*) looks amazingly like seed wheat. So much so that over the years, people called it "false wheat." The French call it "ivraie", which means "drunken wheat." If someone ingests this plant after it becomes infected with Neotyphodium fungus, they'll feel nauseated and intoxicated.

Meadow fescue (Lolium pratense) is a hardy perennial grass that is native to Eurasia but was introduced widely throughout North America as a feed crop. It is sometimes used in athletic fields because of its resistance to heat and trampling. Because it is so hardy, it can invade grasslands and crowd out native species.