Quackgrass - Agropyron Repens - A Perennial Weed

 

Keeping it Out Of Flower and Vegetable Beds

 

 

• Pictures, research, and information gathered by Susan Berman

 

Many community gardens in Toronto suffer from an invasive grass called Quackgrass, or - Agropyron Repens. The Latin name means a 'sudden field of fire', and attests to its ability to take over lawns, fields and gardens. The plant is hardy to zone 3 and is actually native to Europe. It has been growing in North America for over 200 years

 

In older books quackgrass may be referred to as couch, quitch, devils wheat, scutch, twitch, witch, dog or durfa grass. This plant is listed as a noxious weed because of the detrimental effects it has on agricultural crops, though it does help control erosion.

 

See may 2011