Description

Brown bent is an attractive, relatively short perennial grass which is very close in appearance and behaviour to common bent. It has fine, flat leaves that can spread out with short rhizomes to form a dense sward. Its delicate flower and seed heads are loose and open in flower, but closed in seed. It is a relatively late flowering grass, coming out between June and mid-August. In the past brown bent was considered as merely a sub-species of velvet bent and in older books is often listed as Agrostis canina ssp. montana.

Habitat Information

Brown bent is mainly found growing on dry or free-draining, acidic, sandy or peaty soils on heaths, in acidic grass-heath and in open woodland clearings and rides. It is often found growing in close association with common bent on poor soils on hills and mountains. It is absent from wet or waterlogged soils.

Growing information

Brown bent seed be sown at any time of the year when soil conditions are suitable. Having very small seed germination and development of ground cover can be slow at first, but once established it is quite persistent.

Brown bent once established In grassland on suitable soils is long lived and able to tolerate nutrient and drought stress as well as mowing or grazing. Being a short and slow growing grass it does not contribute much to grazing or hay productivity except on sites when little else grows.