This grass is native to temperate Europe and Asia, and was introduced into the United States around the middle of the last century. It is a long-lived perennial, which forms a few short rootstocks and underground branches. It produces a medium dense sod.
Leaves are medium in width, dark green and numerous.
Stems generally reach about 3 feet. It is especially useful as pasture, growing throughout a long season. In combination with legumes it is made into silage in the Pacific Northwest, but is rarely harvested for hay.