Redtop

Pollen Type: Grass

Cross-Reactivity: Colonial Bent Grass, Koeler’s Grass, Common Wild Oats, Tall Oatgrass, Velvetgrass

HS Allergy Extract: Redtop or Timothy

Family: Poaceae

Genus/Species: Agrostis alba

Common Names: Redtop, Herd’s Grass, Creeping Bent Grass

Distribution: Throughout the United States except for the warmest areas.

Locations: Widely cultivated for lawns, pastures, and meadows. A common escape in cooler regions.

Pollinating Period: June through mid-August, mostly June & July. As early as April in Pacific Coast states.

Pollination Method: Wind-pollinated

Description: Redtop is an upright perennial grass 2’-5’ feet tall and up to 1/3” wide. It’s flat, hairless, and mostly smooth on both sides and grows by creeping root stalks (rhizomes). Its flowers grow on loose pyramidal-shaped panicles (loose branches containing the seed heads) up to 12” long. Flower clusters (spikelets) on the head are usually reddish colored. It is considered a fairly heavy pollinator.

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