Weeds Identification Gallery

Bentgrasses

  • Agrostis spp.
  • Grass Family: Poaceae
Updated: 09/2025

Bentgrasses are fine-bladed perennial grasses. Commonly used as a turfgrass, bentgrasses are mostly found in cool climates and in areas of frequent irrigation. Bentgrasses can invade into adjacent turf and irrigated landscaped areas by the growth of its creeping, horizontal stem (stolon).

Eleven spikelets arranged in an oval each with one long projection from the spikelet body against a dark grey background. A scale bar measures 1 millimeter showing the spikelet bodies are about 1 to 1.5 millimeters and the long projection between 2 and 3 millimeters. Copyright information is at the bottom (Copyright 2007 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.). Credit: Joseph M. DiTomaso, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources
Seeds. Credit: Joseph M. DiTomaso, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources

Collar Region

The collar has a membranous ligule, but no auricles.

A collar region where a blade angles away from the main stalk. Copyright information is at the bottom (Copyright 2007 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.). Credit: Joseph M. DiTomaso, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources
Collar and sheath. Credit: Joseph M. DiTomaso, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources

Mature Plant

The mature plant develops dense sod patches. Leaves are narrow, normally much finer than other turf, except fine fescue, which has rolled, rather than flat leaves. Creeping aboveground stems root easily at stem joints (nodes). Leaf blades and sheaths are hairless.

A patch of bentgrass with several stems reaching over bare soil. Credit: Clyde L. Elmore
Mature bentgrass. Credit: Clyde L. Elmore

Reproduction

Bentgrasses reproduce by seed and aboveground creeping stems.

An inflorescence sweeps downward from a stiff upright stem against a black background. The inflorescence is complex with many structures branching from the main stem. Copyright information is at the bottom (Copyright 2007 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.). Credit: Joseph M. DiTomaso, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources
Flower head. Credit: Joseph M. DiTomaso, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources

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