It is tolerant of a wide range of soils and moisture conditions and will thrive in acidic or porous soils. Perennial ryegrass is a cool-season bunchgrass found throughout the United States. It is well adapted to medium maintenance. It is generally less tolerant to environmental extremes than Kentucky bluegrass, however, and is used principally in mixtures with other turfgrass species. As a very small percentage in a mixture, perennial ryegrass can become a serious weed.
Perennial ryegrass is an excellent seedling competitor and can dominate in a mixture.
While it tolerates a wide range of soil and environmental conditions, heat, cold, and drought can take their toll on perennial ryegrass stands. The leaves are narrow to medium in width, light to dark green, and generally shiny on the underside. The auricles are short and stubby . The inflorescence is a long spike of many-flowered spikelets. Perennial ryegrass can be distinguished by the presence of short or stubby auricles, unlike the long clasping auricles of annual ryegrass.