Any ideas what this grass is?

[TheSandHurtsMyFeelings]

I noticed this red grass growing in a wild patch in our garden. I think it's quite attractive and I'd like more of it if possible! Anyone know what it might be?

Is it this? https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/94352/imperata-cylindrica-rubra/details

Hello TheSandHurtsMyFeelings,

If you could upload a couple of clearer photos including one of the seed head possibly all against a white background that would be great. If the seed head is not present yet you may be able to peal part if the outer sheath apart to reveal it.

Happy gardening
TheSustainableGardener 👩‍🌾

From that photo it looks like Yorkshire Fog, but I don’t think that turns red. Ideally we need a close-up, a flower head as well if you have it. Also, you’ll see that where the leaf joins the stem, there is a sheath round the stem. If you look where the leaf and the sheath join, there may be an extra flap. A description of that could help. Better still, a photo if you can.

Unlikely for that to turn up in a lawn. No reason why OP shouldn’t grow it though

Right, I've been out and grabbed a blade and what I think is the same grass but with the seed heads on! Any good?

Hello again TheSandHurtsMyFeelings,

Your grass is possibly Festuca rubra. It’s a lawn grass and not something you would grow ornamentally.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/festuca-rubra

Happy gardening
TheSustainableGardener 👩‍🌾

Not Festuca rubra - spikelets have shorter stalks so not so spreading, and they’re not drooping. F rubra also has shorter awns.And it just doesn’t have the right “jizz” for F rubra (I’ve spent the last 5 days surrounded by the stuff doing plant surveys) It looks like one of the bromes. Possibly Barren Brome, Anisantha sterilis, in which case look for hairy leaf sheaths, and rough awns (the spikes on the end) that will stick to socks. A close up of where the leaf joins the sheath would be useful. It’s not usually a lawn grass but could have been carried in.

Hello again MereDintofPandiculation,

I did also wonder if your grass was a Brome from a book on grasses I have.

Happy plant / grass surveying
TheSustainableGardener 👩‍🌾

That’s not the best grass book. Hubbard is the classic, but will drive you mad distinguishing the different subspecies of F rubra. If you’re interested only in the common ones, then Dominic Price has written an excellent guide. Stace has a key to grasses which I’ve not used, although I use him for sedges sometimes. If there are no flowers, then Poland and Clement is worth a try.

https://www.summerfieldbooks.com/product/grasses-a-guide-to-their-structure-identification-uses-and-distribution-in-the-british-isles/

https://www.speciesrecoverytrust.org.uk/product-page/a-field-guide-to-grasses-sedges-and-rushes

https://www.nhbs.com/new-flora-of-the-british-isles-book

https://www.nhbs.com/the-vegetative-key-to-the-british-flora-book

I have one I grew in a pot, thought it had died during the recent move but happy to say it’s recovered beautifully. And yes, unusual for it to grow in grass.