Agrostis stolonifera Green Twist

Agrostis stolonifera, also known as creeping bentgrass, is a perennial, creeping and spreading grass that grows rapidly through numerous stolons. It is often used on golf courses, where it forms beautiful, soft and fine-textured mats. 'Green Twist' is composed of glorious lush green root hairs that cascade in a beautiful way. It is ideal in hanging baskets and will add a decorative touch to patios and balconies. This excellent ground cover can potentially replace lawns in lightly trodden areas that are regularly watered. Place it in the sun, in ordinary but moist soil.

Agrostis stolonifera is a perennial plant of the Poaceae family, native to Eurasia and North Africa, widely spread to North America. It prefers moist places, but is not very demanding when it comes to soil type. The lateral growth of this grass with shallow roots is very rapid. It can colonise a square metre within a few months. Its stolons crawl on the ground and root at the nodes. Its appearance varies in nature, depending on its habitat. It reaches a height of about 30cm (12in). Its culms are either erect or prostrate. The evergreen leaves are linear, reaching up to 10cm (4in) long and 5mm wide. They are very flexible and most often bent towards the ground like long green hair. The inflorescences appear from June to August, depending on the climate, in the form of branched panicles bearing loose spikelets. The plant reproduces easily through its seeds dispersed by the wind.

It is a vigorous plant with real ornamental value. When used to replace a lawn, it will require a lot of maintenance: regular mowing and cleaning, removing the culms, and consistent watering. On the other hand, it is truly astonishing when planted in a vase or hanging basket on a patio. It forms a green mane in just one season, sometimes cascading over 1m (3ft). It boasts an unusual pattern, reminiscent of certain epiphytic plants from the tropics. It is undoubtedly an excellent complement to all other plants on a patio. At the end of the season, it is advisable to divide this imposing grass and replant it in a new container.

Usage: Agrostis stolonifera is planted in disturbed and polluted areas for its ability to absorb heavy metals. It helps improve water quality and also provides fodder for livestock.