Annual Ryegrass (Italian Ryegrass)
Lolium multiflorum
Scientific Name: Lolium multiflorum
Common Name: Annual Ryegrass (Italian Ryegrass)
Annual Ryegrass, or Italian Ryegrass, is a cool-season annual or biannual bunch grass. It grows best in the sun but can adapt to many different climate conditions. Mature plants grow to be between 1 and 3 feet tall with a seedhead that can be anywhere from 4-16 inches long. Italian Ryegrass is a great nutritious option for livestock, and it does not require much water. However, if left uncontrolled, it becomes a nasty weed for cereal crops and grass seed crops.