This study was conducted to investigate the effect of waterlogging stress on the physiological response and growth characteristics of the five Italian ryegrass varieties. For all varieties, the germination rate of seed decreased by 10-15% as the waterlogging period increased, but the waterlogging stress treatment after the early seedling stage increased the growth of shoot and root length. Photosynthetic activity (Fv/Fm) according to waterlogging stress treatment decreased in all vareity, and Florida 80 showed the least decrease with 1.5%. Waterlogging stress treatment was found to reduce the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (malondialdehyde, MDA) and the activities of antioxidant enzymes. These results suggest that other mechanisms may be involved in the defense mechanism of Italian ryegrass against waterlogging stress, such as promoting root growth to escape from waterlogging stress, in addition to the antioxidant enzyme system.