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Quackgrass

Quackgrass

Elytrigia repens

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How common: Very common

Quackgrass is a tall, tough perennial grass that spreads by long, creeping white underground stems. It is common in human‑influenced places such as fields, gardens, roadsides and seashores. In summer it shows narrow, upright flower heads on smooth green to bluish stems.

Did you know?

  • Most of the plant is hidden below ground in its long white stems.
  • It often forms large, dense patches and can grow taller than many neighbors.

About the species

Identification

Upright, spreading grass 30–100 cm tall, often forming broad patches. Stems smooth, green to bluish. Leaves flat, 0.5–1.2 cm wide, long‑pointed; upper side slightly rough, underside dull and smooth. At each leaf base two long, curved lobes clasp the stem. Flower head a straight, slender, upright spike 6–16 cm; the small flower clusters sit flat against the central stalk. Compare: in ryegrass they sit edge‑on. Spreads by long, white, creeping underground stems. Flowers in Finland from June to August.

Plant group

Grasses, sedges and rushes

Habitat

yards and roadsides

Flowering

Jun–Aug

About the habitat

Thrives on nutrient‑rich, disturbed ground: fields and cropland, gardens and lawns, roadsides, waste ground, village and boat shores, and coastal gravel and sand; also in meadows and light scrub. Common in southern and central Finland; rarer in the north, scarce in northern Lapland.

Sources

Photo: Ayotte, Gilles, 1948-, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Elymus repens 15-p.bot-agro.repens-20.jpg

Text: Pinkka: Verso- ja leviäintunnistus - Kaikki leviäimet, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.40537

Text: Pinkka: BIO-503 Suomen kasvisto ja kasvillisuus - Itämeri: hiekkarannat, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.40537

Text: Pinkka (Luomus), CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.40537

Text: Pinkka: Verso- ja leviäintunnistus - Kaikki versot, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.40537

Text: Wikipedia (Finnish), CC BY-SA 4.0 https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niittyjuola

See also