Orchard Grass

Dactylis glomerata

Found in pastures, fields, woodland edges, roadsides. FloraQuest, phone app (app page) What its natural habitat tells you

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Not native

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

Profile 76%

Height: About 3 feet
Light: Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture: Usually moist

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Eastern Narrowleaf Sedge
Carex amphibola
Sun: Partial shade, Full shade, Full sun. Soil: Somewhat dry to average. Flowers: Green.
Similar growth form, height, evergreen or deciduous
Graceful Sedge
Carex gracillima
Sun: Part to full shade. Soil: Average to moist. Flowers: Green.
Similar growth form, height, evergreen or deciduous
Greater Straw Sedge
Carex normalis
Sun: Deep shade, Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Usually moist. Flowers: Green.
Similar growth form, height, evergreen or deciduous

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At a glance

Life cycle: Perennial
Leaves: Deciduous
Bloom: April to October
Fruiting season: Spring to summer

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Not yet recorded · Spread

Recorded in 98 Virginia counties.

Natural habitats

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

1 of 2

Named place / source context. Shown: Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, Georgia and Tennessee; which part is not recorded, a neighboring state.Wooded scene looking out over partially open fields, Richard Schlecht, undated. Public domain. Source record.

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 VA

Genus host records with ranges including VA · Dactylis

Apamea devastatorGlassy Borer, Glassy Cutworm Moth
Apamea sordensBordered Apamea, Rustic Shoulder-Knot
Chrysoteuchia topiariusCranberry Girder, Subterranean Webworm, Topiary Grass-Veneer
Dargida diffusaWheat Head Armywotm Moth
Fissicrambus mutabilisStriped Webworm, Striped Sodworm, Changeable Grass-Veneer
Hesperia leonardusLeonard's Skipper, Blazing Star Skipper, Pawnee Prairie Skipper, Pawnee Montane Skipper
Hydraecia immanisHop Borer, Hop Vine Borer
Leucania adjutaAdjutant Wainscot
Leucania commoidesDusky Wainscot, Comma Wainscot
Leucania inermisUnarmed Wainscot

Show all 20

Leucania insuetaDarted Wainscot, Heterodox Wainscot
Leucania linitaReed Wainscot, Linen Wainscot
Leucania phragmitidicolaNeedle Wainscot, Phragmites Wainscot
Leucania pseudargyriaFalse Wainscot
Leucania scirpicolaScirpus Wainscot
Lon zabulonZabulon Skipper
Megisto cymelaLittle Wood Satyr
Mythimna oxygalaLesser Wainscot
Mythimna unipunctaArmyworm Moth, White Speck
Papaipema nebrisStalk Borer

Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)

—BeesSoutheastern regional records

—Specialist beesPollen specialists

—BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Poaceae
Hardiness: Zones 4a–8b
Soil pH: Acidic to neutral
Flower color: Yellow
Growth rate: Moderate
Growth habit: Grows in clumps
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

Bloom · “April to October” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
Flower color · “Yellow” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Foliage color · “Green” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit begins · “Spring” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit ends · “Summer” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth habit · “Grows in clumps” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth rate · “Moderate” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Hardiness · “Zones 4a–8b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “About 3 feet” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Leaves · “Deciduous” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Life cycle · “Perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Light · “Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil · “Moist; Occasionally wet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil pH · “Acidic to neutral” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Conservation status

Virginia rank	SNA
Global rank	GNR
VA status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source