Italian Ryegrass

Italian Ryegrass is an introduced, annual, cool-season bunch grass with many uses.  It is the same species as Annual Ryegrass but, in  areas with mild winters, Italian Ryegrass is a biennial.  It is quick to establish and generates substantial leaf growth during the spring and summer but doesn’t produce seed heads until the next spring.

Like Annual Ryegrass, Italian Ryegrass can provide quick cover for erosion control and makes a good cover crop component because it helps reduce soil compaction and increase water infiltration.  It can also be a nurse crop for slower-to-establish grass species.  Finally, Italian Ryegrass is very palatable to livestock and wildlife and is useful for providing temporary pasture or for early spring growth in permanent pastures.