# Orchard Grass (*Dactylis glomerata*) Orchard Grass is a lush grass that grows well in many places! It’s soft and perfect for grazing animals. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 49 - **Habitat:** Fields and meadows - **Also known as:** Cat's Tail, Cocksfoot ![Orchard Grass](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426252/objects/5013.jpg) ## Appearance The Orchard Grass is a cool-season grass that forms dense, bluish-green clumps or tussocks. Its broad, flat leaves can have a rough texture. The distinctive flower head appears as a compact, often one-sided, branched cluster of spikelets. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Liliopsida - **Order:** Poales - **Family:** Poaceae - **Genus:** Dactylis ## Interesting facts - A single plant can release billions of tiny pollen grains into the air! - It got its common name because it often pops up in fruit orchards! - It's a super important food for many grazing farm animals! - This speedy grass is one of the first to grow tall each spring! ## Special abilities - **Tussock Power:** Orchard Grass can grow in dense clumps that help it resist trampling and provides shade for its roots. - **Drought Buster Roots:** Orchard Grass has a deep and fibrous root system that helps it find water during dry periods. - **Wind Whispers:** Orchard Grass releases vast amounts of lightweight pollen into the wind, helping it spread its genes far and wide. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-140 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.1-0.3 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late_spring_to_early_summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Cattle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cattle) (*Bos taurus*) — Main food source in pastures - **Eaten by:** [Sheep](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sheep) (*Ovis aries*) — Commonly grazed by livestock - **Eaten by:** [Canada Goose](https://www.snappit.app/explore/canada-goose) (*Branta canadensis*) — Often eats young grass shoots - **Shelter:** Meadow Vole (*Microtus pennsylvanicus*) — Dense clumps provide cover ## Traits - [Grass-Like](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grass-like): Grass-like plants are herbaceous plants that visually resemble true grasses, typically having long, narrow leaves. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Agricultural](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/agricultural): This human use trait describes species cultivated or domesticated by humans for agricultural purposes, including crops and livestock. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. ## Collections - [Grasses](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/grasses) - [Grasses, Shrubs & Bushes](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/grasses-shrubs-and-bushes) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Orchard Grass? Compare seed heads, stem shape, how leaves attach, and the joint where leaf meets stem. A patch of mown lawn rarely shows enough for an exact ID. Grass Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Orchard Grass? 30-140 cm ### How big are the flowers on Orchard Grass? 0.1-0.3 cm ### When does Orchard Grass bloom? Late_spring_to_early_summer ### Is Orchard Grass edible? Yes ### Is Orchard Grass toxic? None ### What is Orchard Grass's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is Orchard Grass pollinated? Wind ## Where to spot - [Davisville Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/davisville-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Delaware Division of the Pennsylvania Canal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/delaware-division-of-the-pennsylvania-canal) — Pennsylvania, US · Historic Site - [Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/drumlin-farm-wildlife-sanctuary) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve - [Dundee Canal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/dundee-canal) — New Jersey, US · Historic Site - [E. E. Wilson Wildlife Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/e-e-wilson-wildlife-area) — Oregon, US · Nature Reserve - [East Greenwich Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/east-greenwich-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District [View all places to see Orchard Grass](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/orchard-grass) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Orchard Grass: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/orchard-grass)