Quackgrass—Elymus repens, Elytrigia repens
A creeping perennial grass, quackgrass spreads extensively through rhizomes (horizontal underground stems). It is an aggressive invader in crops, pastures, lawns, roadsides, and disturbed areas.
Leaves are long, flat and tapered, and slightly hairy on the upper surface.
Seeds grow on long, narrow spiked seed heads which are 3 to 8 inches long and appear in July.
Stems are smooth and hollow and grow 1 to 4 feet tall.
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Identification and Control Information
- Quackgrass (Elytrigia repens) Control Methods in Organic Agriculture (PDF)
- Weed of the Weed: Quackgrass (PDF) —United States Department of Agriculture
- The Organic Weed Management Website—Cornell University
More Information
- Invasive Alien Plant Species of Virginia: What are Invasive Alien Plant Species and why are they a problem?—Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation
- Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas brochure (PDF) —Plant Conservation Alliance
- What the Heck is an Invasive Plant? brochure (PDF) —Plant Conservation Alliance
- Weeds and Your Garden brochure (PDF) —New York State IPM Program and Cornell Cooperative Extension
- Weed Management in the Home Garden (PDF) —Iowa State University Extension
[Photos, left to right: Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org; Robert Vidéki, Doronicum Kft., Bugwood.org; USDA PLANTS Database, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org]