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Quackgrass

Elymus repens

In the Carolinas and Georgia, found in roadsides, disturbed areas, pastures. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition What its natural habitat tells you

-30
Harmful

Not native to Arkansas. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 82%

Height
About 2.6 feet
Light
Partial shade, Full sun
Soil moisture
Dry to moist
See native alternatives

Do not plant. Listed invasive in Arkansas.

Plant this instead

Choose your county to list local plants first.

  • Little Bluestem
    Schizachyrium scoparium

    Sun: Full sun. Soil: Somewhat dry to moist. Flowers: Purple.

    Similar growth form, height, evergreen or deciduous

  • Bushy Bluestem
    Andropogon glomeratus

    Sun: Full sun. Soil: Average to wet. Flowers: White.

    Similar growth form, height, evergreen or deciduous

  • Splitbeard Bluestem
    Andropogon ternarius

    Sun: Full to part sun. Soil: Dry to somewhat dry. Flowers: Green.

    Similar growth form, height, evergreen or deciduous

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At a glance

Bloom
June to August
Fruiting season
Spring to summer

Not yet recorded · Spread · Life cycle · Leaves

Recorded in 1 Arkansas county.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.

All habitats

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

20CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including AR

Genus host records with ranges including AR · Elymus

  • Amblyscirtes vialisCommon Roadside-Skipper, Black Little Skipper
  • Ancyloxypha numitorLeast Skipper
  • Apamea lignicoloraWood-Colored Apamea
  • Apamea sordensBordered Apamea, Rustic Shoulder-Knot
  • Cercyonis pegalaCommon Wood Nymph
  • Dargida diffusaWheat Head Armywotm Moth
  • Helcystogramma hystricellaLanceolate Helcystogramma, Lanceolate Moth
  • Lethe anthedonNorthern Pearly Eye
  • Leucania commoidesDusky Wainscot, Comma Wainscot
  • Leucania multilineaMany-Lined Wainscot
Show all 20
  • Leucania phragmitidicolaNeedle Wainscot, Phragmites Wainscot
  • Lon zabulonZabulon Skipper
  • Mythimna unipunctaArmyworm Moth, White Speck
  • Nephelodes miniansBronzed Cutworm
  • Papaipema cataphractaBurdock Border, Potato-Stalk Borer
  • Papaipema nebrisStalk Borer
  • Polites themistoclesTawny-Edged Skipper
  • Pyrrharctia isabellaIsabella Tiger Moth, Banded Woolybear
  • Spodoptera frugiperdaFall Armyworm Moth
  • Elachista illectella
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
—BeesSoutheastern regional records
—Specialist beesPollen specialists
4BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Elymus

  • Alectoris chukarChukar
  • Anser albifronsGreater White-fronted Goose
  • Perdix perdixGray Partridge
  • Plectrophenax nivalisSnow Bunting
Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Poaceae
Flower color
Yellow
Growth rate
Rapid
Growth habit
Spreads by rhizomes
Foliage color
Green
Fruit begins
Spring
Fruit ends
Summer

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope
Also known as

Agropyron repens; Quack Grass

Conservation status

Arkansas rankSNA
Global rankGNR
AR statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

Sources