Native Plants
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Agrostis scabra
Agrostis scabra Willd.
Rough Bentgrass, Rough Bent, Ticklegrass, Fly-away Grass
Poaceae (Grass Family)
Synonym(s): Agrostis geminata, Agrostis hyemalis var. geminata, Agrostis hyemalis var. scabra, Agrostis hyemalis var. tenuis, Agrostis scabra ssp. septentrionalis, Agrostis scabra var. geminata, Agrostis scabra var. septentrionalis
USDA Symbol: AGSC5
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N), GL (N), SPM (N)
Rough bent or ticklegrass is a perennial clump grass, 3 1/2 ft. tall, with long, delicate branches that branch again toward the top. The inflorescence is wide and occupies most of the height of the plant. At first, the inflorescence is purple-green and shining, then tan. It often breaks off and floats around like a tumbleweed.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Grass/Grass-like
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Venation: Parallel
Fruit Type: Caryopsis
Size Notes: Up to about 3-1/2 feet tall.
Leaf: Green
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Yellow , Green , BrownBloom Time: Feb , Mar , Apr
Distribution
USA: AK , AL , AR , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DE , FL , GA , IA , ID , IL , IN , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MT , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NV , NY , OH , OR , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV , WYCanada: AB , BC , MB , NB , NL , NS , NT , NU , ON , PE , QC , SK , YT
Native Distribution: Nf. to AK, s. to FL, LA, NM & CA
Native Habitat: Moist meadows; streamsides; open woods
Growing Conditions
Water Use: MediumLight Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Drought Tolerance: High
Soil Description: Mucky to moist, sandy soils.
Conditions Comments: When A. hiemalis is separated from A. scabra, its range is from the eastern U.S. to WI, KS & TX. Without A. hiemalis, the range of A. scabra does not include the extreme s.e. U.S.
Benefit
Attracts: BirdsLarval Host: The Grass Family is an essential larval food for most branded skippers and most of the satyrs.
Find Seed or Plants
View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.
National Wetland Indicator Status
Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
Status: | FAC | FAC | FAC | FAC | FAC | FAC | FAC | FAC |
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Natural Biodiversity - Johnstown, PA
Web Reference
Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) CalfloraWebref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Additional resources
USDA: Find Agrostis scabra in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Agrostis scabra in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Agrostis scabra
Metadata
Record Modified: 2022-11-04Research By: TWC Staff