It is native to Europe, but it is known throughout the world as a common weed.

It grows in lawns, sidewalks, roadsides, cultivated fields, and many other places.

This annual grass grows 20 centimetres (8 inches) to well over 1 metre (1 yard) in height, its mostly hairless stems ranging from green to purple-tinged in color.

The leaf blades are hairless on the upper surfaces, twisting, and up to 30 centimetres (12 inches) long.

The inflorescence is a stiff, cylindrical bundle of spikelets 2 to 15 centimetres (3⁄4 to 6 inches) long with short, blunt bristles.