Alopecurus spp.
foxtail grasses
Temperate Northern Hemisphere and South America
Container Friendly
Native to North America
Overview
Alopecurus spp. is a genus of about 50 species of annual and perennial grasses in the family Poaceae, found mainly across the temperate Northern Hemisphere and in South America. Plants form loose tufts or spread by short rhizomes, with flat, narrow leaf blades and upright stems 6-48 in (15-120 cm) tall. The flowering head is a dense, soft, cylindrical spike-like panicle 1-5 in (2.5-13 cm) long, resembling a fox tail, which gives the genus its common name. Each tiny flower sits in a single-flowered spikelet, and many species carry a slender bristle (awn) that projects from the head. Bloom comes in spring and early summer, with the heads shedding pollen on the wind before drying to straw. The genus includes pasture grasses, such as meadow foxtail A. pratensis, grown for hay and grazing, and arable weeds, such as black-grass A. myosuroides, which has developed resistance to several herbicides. Species grow in meadows, marshes, ditches, and cultivated fields, mostly on moist ground. Self-seeding is heavy in the weedy species.
Native Range
The genus is native across the temperate Northern Hemisphere, in Europe, Asia, and North America, with some species in temperate South America. Plants grow in damp meadows, marshes, streamsides, ditches, and arable fields.Suggested Uses
Pasture species such as A. pratensis are grown for hay and grazing on damp meadows, and the gold-variegated form is used in borders and containers as an ornamental grass. Several species are planted in wet meadows, rain gardens, and pond margins.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6" - 4'
Width/Spread6" - 2'
Bloom Information
Flowering comes early, in mid- to late spring and early summer, ahead of many other grasses. The soft heads release wind-borne pollen over a week or two, then dry to pale straw and shed seed. In the perennial pasture species, cutting or grazing before seed-set limits spread.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
green to straw, sometimes purple-tingedFoliage Description
green, gold-variegated in one cultivarGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Plants grow in full sun to part shade and in moist to wet soils, including heavy clay and ground prone to seasonal flooding. The pasture species are productive on fertile, damp meadow soils, while several species tolerate marshy and ditch conditions. Drought checks growth, as the genus is suited to moist rather than dry ground. The perennial kinds spread by short rhizomes and self-seeding, and the weedy annuals seed heavily in cultivated soil. No special feeding is needed on meadow soils. The variegated form of A. pratensis keeps its brightest colour in cooler, brighter conditions.Pruning
Flower heads are cut off before seed ripens on the weedy species to reduce self-seeding. Clumps of the ornamental forms are sheared back after flowering and divided in spring to keep them vigorous.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
summer
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 2 gallons