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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 

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