Common Name: Reed Fescue

General Information

Lolium arundinaceum is a vigorous, clump-forming, deep-rooted perennial grass growing 80 - 160cm tall[].
The plant can be used in soil stabilization projects and can also be used in phytoremediation projects. It is grown as an ornamental in gardens.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Eurasia - Norway and Britain to Portugal, east through Russia, Caucasua and Turkey to western Siberia and central Asia; N. Africa - Morocco to Libya

Habitat

Not known

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.20 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental

Cultivation Details

Lolium arundinaceum is a plant of the temperate and subtropical zones of Europe and Asia, where it is found at elevations up to 500 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 15 - 22°c, but can tolerate 5 - 30°c[]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -3°c, but young growth is more tender and can be severely damaged at 0°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 600 - 1,00mm, but tolerates 400 - 1,500mm[].
Grows best in a sunny position, tolerating light shade. Succeeds in a wide range of soils, tolerating those of low fertility[]. Somewhat tolerant of soil salinity[]. Prefers a well0drained soil, but can tolerate both seasonal inundation of the soil and very dry conditions[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 8, tolerating 4 - 9.5[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant can be used as bioremediator to reduce boron and selenium levels in contaminated soils[].
The plant is used in soil stabilization and improvement projects[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -