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Grass Like

Agrostis stolonifera

creeping bent

A fast-growing grass, spreading by stolons - horizontal stems that root as they go - to form mats up to 1m across. The leaves are soft, mid-green and relatively broad, and the tiny green flowers often with a red flush, are carried in a rather narrow, airy spray on stems up to 40cm tall

Other common names

butter grass
fiorin
see moremaeswellt gwyn y maes

Synonyms

Agrostis alba var. pallens
Agrostis alba misapplied
see moreAgrostis karsensis
Agrostis stolonifera f. vivipara

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.5–1 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained, Poorly–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Poaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: Yes
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Matforming
Genus: Agrostis can be annual or perennial grasses, with narrow or bristle-like leaves and branches panicles of small flowers
Name status: Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Will grow in most garden situations, including heavy or wet soils and partial shade. Does not make a good sward even if mown, and is more likely to be a weed than a lawn grass, though some cultivars are used on golf greens and sports fields

Propagation

Propagate from seed or by separating rooted shoots

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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