Gulf Annual Ryegrass

Annual ryegrass, also known as Italian ryegrass, is an introduced, native to the Mediterranean region, short lived cool season annual . It germinates and establishes quickly and is used in both the northern and southern regions of the United States for erosion control, temporary turf, as a cover crop, and as a pasture grass. When compared to perennial ryegrass annual ryegrass is generally lighter in color and has a less uniform growth pattern. Annual ryegrass can be kept at heights of 2" to 3" for turf applications and can grow up to 24" to 36" if left alone. Annual ryegrass adapts to a wide variety of soils and prefers full sun. As a cool season, annual ryegrass germinates best when soil temperatures are approximately 50°F - 65°F.