Agropyron repens Couch grass (Gramineae)

Browse Plants Articles

Power Search!

Browse Botanic Names

Sponsored By KhorWills

Agropyron repens
Couch grass
(1 Page of 5)

The Agropyron repens plant species is found in Britain. It is a member of the Gramineae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as Couch grass. Some home gardeners know the variety as Elymus repens.(L.)Gould.

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

Latin Name:  Agropyron repens
Common Name:  Couch grass
Family:  Gramineae
Author:  (L.)Beauv.

Known Hazards:  None known

Mature Height:  0.6   Mature Width:  1

Habitat:  A common weed of gardens, fields, hedgerows and meadows[17].

Edible Uses: Roots - cooked. They can be dried and ground into a powder, then used with wheat when making bread[12, 46, 105, 244]. Although thin and stringy, the roots contain starch and enzymes and are quite sweet[7]. When boiled for a long time to break down the leathery membrane, a syrup can be made from the roots and this is sometimes brewed into a beer[2, 7]. The roasted root is a coffee substitute[46]. Young leaves and shoots - eaten raw in spring salads[7]. A slightly sweet flavour, though quickly becoming very fibrous, they are rather less than wonderful[K]. The juice from these shoots is sometimes used as a spring tonic[244]. Seed[161]. A cereal mash can be made from them[7]. The seed is very small and there is a large husk surrounding it, so that effectively it is more like eating fibre than cereal[K].

For further Agropyron repens gardening information
click on one of the blue links below

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

The information above has been supplied solely via the hard work and dedication of the team at 'Plants for a Future'.
View their bibliography
Useful Edible Plants Future