Creeping Bent

Agrostis stolonifera is stoloniferous and may form mats or tufts. The prostrate stems of this species grow to 0.4–1.0 metre (1 ft 4 in – 3 ft 3 in) long with 2–10-centimetre (0.79–3.94 in) long leaf blades and a panicle reaching up to 40 cm (16 in) in height. The ligule is pointed and up to 5 millimetres (0.20 in) long. This differs from common bent, Agrostis capillaris, which is short and does not come to a point. The leaves are tapering, often with a blue-grey colour. The grass is not tufted and the spikelets are red and tightly closed within the panicle. Where ranges overlap, A. stolonifera is easily confused with the stoloniferous A. gigantea and A. castellana. From those species, it can be distinguished by its thinner panicle (0.5-2.5cm wide, versus 4-8cm wide). In New Zealand, it is suspected to hybridise with A. castellana, complicating identification. A. stolonifera and Polypogon monspesulensis are the parents of the sterile intergeneric hybrid ×Agropogon lutosus. From A. stolonifera, ×Agropogon differs by its awned lemmas. From P. monspesulensis, ×Agropogon differs in having more persistent spikelets, and lemmas with subterminal awns.

A. stolonifera is native to Eurasia and North Africa (Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia). It is possible that it may also be native to northern parts of North America, and in any case it has been widely introduced and naturalised on that continent and in many other places. In New Zealand, Agrostis stolonifera naturalised in 1878, and is widespread throughout both main islands, as well as Chatham Islands, Auckland Islands, and Campbell Island. As a weed of wetland areas, it competes with the Threatened - Nationally Vulnerable Lachnagrostis tenuis, and the At Risk - Declining Amphibromus fluitans.

It is the most commonly used species of Agrostis. It is used for turf in gardens and landscapes, particularly on golf courses. Many of the putting greens as well as an increasing number of fairways in the northern United States are creeping bentgrass.