Poaceae
Northern bent
Agrostis mertensii
Also known as Agrostis borealis var. macrantha, Agrostis alpestris, Northern bentgrass, Agrostis rubra var. minor
Zones 3–9Sun Full SunWater ModerateCare Moderate
Native Plants · Bent Grass · Cool Season · Groundcover · Meadow · Fine Texture · Northern · Alpine · Naturalized
Pet-safeAttracts pollinators
Currently out of stock everywhereStock updated 9/6/2026
This cool-season bent grass prefers consistently moist, well-draining soil in full sun. Water regularly during dry spells and provide good air circulation to prevent fungal issues. Excellent for naturalizing in meadow gardens or as a fine-textured groundcover.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 8 hours
- Watering
- Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged · Every 5-7 days
- Maintenance
- Moderate
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 6.5–7
- Temperature
- -35°F to 90°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
Hardiness
USDA 3b-9b
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Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 6 in – 18 in
- Spread
- 12 in
- Spacing
- 6 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Shallow
- Flowers
- No
- Foliage
- Fine
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Alaska, Alberta, Aleutian Is., Argentina Northwest, Argentina South, Bolivia, British Columbia, Chile Central, Chile South, Colombia, Colorado, East European Russia, Ecuador, Finland, France, Greenland, Japan, Kamchatka, Khabarovsk, Kuril Is.
- Attracts
- Birds
Sources: trefle, usda
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