Festuca perennis

Photo: Joseph DiTomaso

Synonyms: Lolium multiflorum; Lolium perenne

Common names: Italian ryegrass

Festuca perennis (Italian ryegrass) is an annual or biennial grass (family Poaceae) found throughout California except in the Great Basin and deserts. Italian ryegrass prefers areas with fertile, well-drained soils, including roadsides, fields, orchards and vineyards. Italian ryegrass is commonly cultivated for erosion control, pasture forage, and turf, but has escaped cultivation in many areas. Italian ryegrass is currently very widespread.

Cal-IPC Rating: Moderate?

CDFA Rating: None?

Assessment(s)

Plant Assessment Form - Information gathered by Cal-IPC on the impacts, rate of spread, and distribution of invasive plants in California. Does not include management information.

Weed Management Notes

No Weed RIC Management Notes are available for this species. Check for information on other species in the genus on the Weed RIC site.

Cal-IPC Newsletter Articles

Cal-IPC Symposium Presentations

Presentations are linked where available. Where a presentation is not available, find more information by reading the abstract in the Cal-IPC Symposia Archive.

Other Festuca perennis Information

  • CalPhotos - Images of plants taken mostly in California.
  • Calflora - Distribution map and records of this species in California.
  • CalWeedMapper - Distribution map of this species in California with ability to determine regional priorities.
  • EDDMapS - Distribution of this species in North America.
  • Jepson Interchange - Information on this plant's taxonomy, biology, and distribution from UC Berkeley's Jepson Herbarium.
  • Additional photos

    Festuca perennis_flower spikelets (full flower)_copyright 2012_NealKramer
    Festuca perennis (Italian ryegrass) flower spikelets (full flower). Photo: &#169 2012 Neal Kramer
    Festuca perennis_flower spikelets (maturing seed)_copyright 2008_NealKramer
    Festuca perennis (Italian ryegrass) flower spikelets (maturing seed). Photo: &#169 2008 Neal Kramer