Overview
Lolium × boucheanum is a cool-season bunchgrass arising from crosses between L. perenne and L. multiflorum, combining traits of both parents. Plants form tufts of flowering culms reaching 12–39 inches (30–100 cm), with linear leaf blades 4–10 inches (10–25 cm) long and 0.1–0.3 inch (3–8 mm) wide. The blades are green, glossy on the underside, and rolled in the shoot rather than folded. Flowering spikes are slender, 4–12 inches (10–30 cm) long, with spikelets set edgewise and alternately along the central axis, each spikelet bearing 5–11 florets. As an intermediate hybrid, plants are shorter-lived than L. perenne but more persistent than annual L. multiflorum, usually behaving as a short-lived perennial that lasts 2–4 years. Some florets carry short awns inherited from the L. multiflorum parent, a trait that varies across plants. The grass establishes rapidly from seed and tolerates regular mowing and grazing, though it has shallow roots and declines under prolonged summer drought. It grows on a range of soils but performs less well on waterlogged or strongly acidic ground. Cold winters below USDA zone 5 kill many plants outright, limiting its persistence in continental climates.
Native Range
The hybrid occurs naturally where the ranges of its parent species overlap across Europe, temperate Asia, and North Africa, appearing in pastures and roadsides where both parents grow together. It is established well beyond this range through agricultural seeding.Suggested Uses
Sown for pasture, hay, and short-term turf where rapid establishment matters more than long persistence. Also used in temporary lawns and for erosion control on disturbed soil.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 3'3"
Width/Spread8" - 1'
Bloom Information
Flowering spikes emerge from late spring into summer, typically May through August in temperate regions. Wind-borne pollen is shed over several weeks and seed ripens through mid to late summer. The spikelets are green and inconspicuous, pollinated by wind rather than insects.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
Green, glossy on the undersideGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in full sun to part shade on moist, fertile soils with a pH near 6.0–7.0. Establishes within weeks from seed sown in spring or autumn and responds to nitrogen with dense leafy growth. Regular mowing or grazing maintains a tufted habit, while uncut plants reach full flowering height. Shallow roots make it sensitive to summer drought, and growth slows or browns during prolonged dry spells. Persistence is limited to a few years, after which stands thin and need reseeding. Cold below USDA zone 5 reduces survival in continental winters.Pruning
Mowing to 1.5–3 inches (4–8 cm) maintains turf density and limits the formation of flowering culms. Cutting after seed set removes spent stems and prompts basal regrowth. No structural pruning is required.Pruning Schedule
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