Holcus mollis aka German Velvet Grass

Holcus mollis, also known as creeping soft grass or creeping velvet grass, is a rhizomatous, herbaceous perennial native to Europe and western Asia. This erect, spreading grass forms a mat of foliage that reaches a height of 6-8 inches. It features narrow green blades with white margins, giving it a soft texture. In summer, purplish-white flower spikes appear, followed by non-showy seed panicles. The plant has variegated foliage with a green central stripe and white margins. The rhizomes of Holcus mollis grow in the soil at a depth of about 5 cm, with intense growth occurring from mid-June to mid-July. The stems are slightly pubescent and have abundant hairs, while the leafy sheaths are smooth or barely pubescent. The leaf blade is flat, gray-green, and slightly pubescent or naked, reaching lengths of 4-20 cm and widths of up to 12 mm. The flowers are whitish, pale gray, or purple, arranged in narrow ovoid or ovoid spikes. The spikelets are oblong or elliptical, reaching lengths of 4-6 mm. The plant may be poisonous and can be removed by mechanical means, such as digging it up in two stages, lifting the earth in large layers before winter and then digging it up more finely in the spring while removing the remaining roots by hand.