Plant Guide with Characteristics, Classification, and other detailed information

Plant Guide

Agrostis gigantea Roth
redtop
AGGI2

Summary
Duration	Perennial
Growth Habit	Graminoid
U.S. Nativity	Introduced to U.S.
Federal T/E Status
National Wetland Indicator	FAC?

Morphology/Physiology
Active Growth Period	Spring and Summer
After Harvest Regrowth Rate	Moderate
Bloat	Low
C:N Ratio	Medium
Coppice Potential	No
Fall Conspicuous	No
Fire Resistant	No
Flower Color	Yellow
Flower Conspicuous	No
Foliage Color	Green
Foliage Porosity Summer	Dense
Foliage Porosity Winter	Porous
Foliage Texture	Fine
Fruit/Seed Color	Brown
Fruit/Seed Conspicuous	No
Growth Form	Rhizomatous
Growth Rate	Rapid
Height at 20 Years, Maximum (feet)
Height, Mature (feet)	2
Known Allelopath	No
Leaf Retention	No
Lifespan	Short
Low Growing Grass	Yes
Nitrogen Fixation
Resprout Ability	No
Shape and Orientation	Decumbent
Toxicity	None

Growth Requirements
Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils	No
Adapted to Fine Textured Soils	Yes
Adapted to Medium Textured Soils	Yes
Anaerobic Tolerance	Medium
CaCO3 Tolerance	Low
Cold Stratification Required	No
Drought Tolerance	Low
Fertility Requirement	Low
Fire Tolerance	High
Frost Free Days, Minimum	90
Hedge Tolerance	None
Moisture Use	Medium
pH, Minimum	4.5
pH, Maximum	8
Planting Density per Acre, Minimum
Planting Density per Acre, Maximum
Precipitation, Minimum	28
Precipitation, Maximum	60
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)	14
Salinity Tolerance	Low
Shade Tolerance	Intolerant
Temperature, Minimum (°F)	-38

Reproduction
Bloom Period	Mid Spring
Commercial Availability	Routinely Available
Fruit/Seed Abundance	High
Fruit/Seed Period Begin	Summer
Fruit/Seed Period End	Summer
Fruit/Seed Persistence	No
Propagated by Bare Root	No
Propagated by Bulb	No
Propagated by Container	No
Propagated by Corm	No
Propagated by Cuttings	No
Propagated by Seed	Yes
Propagated by Sod	No
Propagated by Sprigs	No
Propagated by Tubers	No
Seed per Pound	4851200
Seed Spread Rate	Slow
Seedling Vigor	High
Small Grain	No
Vegetative Spread Rate	Rapid

Suitability/Use
Berry/Nut/Seed Product	No
Christmas Tree Product	No
Fodder Product	Yes
Fuelwood Product	None
Lumber Product	No
Naval Store Product	No
Nursery Stock Product	No
Palatable Browse Animal	High
Palatable Graze Animal	High
Palatable Human	No
Post Product	No
Protein Potential	Medium
Pulpwood Product	No
Veneer Product	No

Agrostis gigantea Roth
redtop
AGGI2
Cultivar: Streaker

Summary
Duration	Perennial
Growth Habit	Graminoid
U.S. Nativity	Introduced to U.S.
Federal T/E Status
National Wetland Indicator	FAC?

Morphology/Physiology
Active Growth Period	Spring and Summer
After Harvest Regrowth Rate	Rapid
Bloat	None
C:N Ratio	Medium
Coppice Potential	No
Fall Conspicuous	No
Fire Resistant	No
Flower Color	Yellow
Flower Conspicuous	No
Foliage Color	Green
Foliage Porosity Summer	Moderate
Foliage Porosity Winter	Porous
Foliage Texture	Fine
Fruit/Seed Color	Brown
Fruit/Seed Conspicuous	No
Growth Form	Rhizomatous
Growth Rate	Rapid
Height at 20 Years, Maximum (feet)
Height, Mature (feet)	2
Known Allelopath	No
Leaf Retention	No
Lifespan	Short
Low Growing Grass	Yes
Nitrogen Fixation
Resprout Ability	No
Shape and Orientation	Erect
Toxicity	None

Growth Requirements
Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils	Yes
Adapted to Fine Textured Soils	Yes
Adapted to Medium Textured Soils	Yes
Anaerobic Tolerance	Medium
CaCO3 Tolerance	None
Cold Stratification Required	No
Drought Tolerance	Medium
Fertility Requirement	Medium
Fire Tolerance	High
Frost Free Days, Minimum	100
Hedge Tolerance	None
Moisture Use	High
pH, Minimum	4.5
pH, Maximum	7.5
Planting Density per Acre, Minimum
Planting Density per Acre, Maximum
Precipitation, Minimum	30
Precipitation, Maximum	60
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)	20
Salinity Tolerance	None
Shade Tolerance	Intolerant
Temperature, Minimum (°F)	-38

Reproduction
Bloom Period	Late Spring
Commercial Availability	Routinely Available
Fruit/Seed Abundance	High
Fruit/Seed Period Begin	Summer
Fruit/Seed Period End	Summer
Fruit/Seed Persistence	No
Propagated by Bare Root	No
Propagated by Bulb	No
Propagated by Container	No
Propagated by Corm	No
Propagated by Cuttings	No
Propagated by Seed	Yes
Propagated by Sod	No
Propagated by Sprigs	No
Propagated by Tubers	No
Seed per Pound	4851200
Seed Spread Rate	Moderate
Seedling Vigor	High
Small Grain	No
Vegetative Spread Rate	Rapid

Suitability/Use
Berry/Nut/Seed Product	No
Christmas Tree Product	No
Fodder Product	Yes
Fuelwood Product	None
Lumber Product	No
Naval Store Product	No
Nursery Stock Product	No
Palatable Browse Animal	Low
Palatable Graze Animal	Medium
Palatable Human	No
Post Product	No
Protein Potential	Medium
Pulpwood Product	No
Veneer Product	No

Kingdom Plantae -- Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionta -- Vascular plants

Superdivision Spermatophyta -- Seed plants

Division Magnoliophyta -- Flowering plants

Class Liliopsida -- Monocotyledons

Subclass Commelinidae

Order Cyperales

Family Poaceae -- Grass family

Genus Agrostis L. -- bentgrass P

Species Agrostis gigantea Roth -- redtop P

Alternate Names

Agrostis alba auct. non L.

Uses

Redtop is used for erosion control, pastures, temporary grass in turf seedings and occasionally for hay. It is often used for stabilizing critical areas, such as ditch and channel banks, strip mine spoils, and grassed waterways because it germinates very rapidly. It may be our most widely adapted grass.

Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status (e.g. threatened or endangered species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

Description

Redtop is a rhizomatous perennial grass that makes a coarse but fairly dense turf. Leaves are narrow and sharp and about 3/8 inch wide. The stems are slender, growing to 30 or 40 inches tall. The inflorescence is pyramidal and reddish in color--hence the common name of redtop. There are approximately 4,990,000 seeds per pound.

Adaptation and Distribution

Redtop is widespread in the Northeast. It has better growth in the humid North than in the warmer climates of the Southern portions. It will grow under a wide variety of soil and moisture conditions. It grows on very acid soils and poor clayey soils of low fertility. It is drought-resistant and also grows well on poorly drained soils.

Redtop is distributed throughout most of the United States. For a current distribution map, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Website.

Establishment

Because of its tiny seed, redtop should have a firm, well-prepared seedbed. It may be sown in early spring or late summer. Seeding depth is 1/4 inch. Redtop is seldom seeded alone, except for temporary cover. Rates of seeding will vary depending upon purpose, and whether seeded alone or in mixtures. In mixtures, rates of 1 to 2 pounds per acre are generally used. For pure stands, seeding rates are from 4 to 5 pounds per acre. The higher rates are used for temporary critical area stabilization. Redtop grows rapidly after seeding and excessive seeding rates are not recommended, particularly in mixtures. When used for erosion control on critical areas, fertilizing is essential to give rapid cover.

Management

Redtop can be a significant forage producer in hay fields, particularly at the first cutting, but it is generally not highly regarded as a forage grass. It does not withstand continuous close grazing. It will persist longer on critical areas since the grass is not often harvested, but will disappear under frequent, close mowing. It will respond to fertilizer and lime.

Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin)

One certified midwestern variety is currently available, named 'Streaker'. Common redtop seed is also available.

Prepared By & Species Coordinator:

USDA NRCS Northeast Plant Materials Program

Edited: 31Jan2002 JLK; 30may06jsp

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS Web site<https://plants.usda.gov> or the Plant Materials Program Web site <https://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov>

Attribution: U.S. Department of Agriculture