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Holcus spp.

velvet grasses

Poaceae

Europe, North Africa, and western Asia

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 4–9

Overview

Holcus spp. is a genus of about eight annual and perennial grasses in the family Poaceae, native to Europe, North Africa, and western Asia. The genus includes Yorkshire fog H. lanatus and creeping soft grass H. mollis, both clothed in soft, velvety grey-green hairs that give the foliage a felted texture and pale, muted colour. Tufted or creeping clumps send up flowering stems 8-40 inches (20-100 cm) tall topped with loose, branched panicles that open pale green flushed with pink or purple before fading to straw. H. lanatus grows in dense tufts, while H. mollis spreads by underground rhizomes to form patches. The grasses grow in damp meadows, rough grassland, woodland edges, and disturbed ground. Easy and adaptable, Holcus spp. self-seeds heavily and spreads aggressively; both species are listed as invasive weeds in the Pacific Northwest, New Zealand, and other regions outside their native range. The soft hairy foliage and early straw-coloured seed heads are the main features through the season.

Native Range

Holcus spp. is native to Europe, North Africa, and temperate western Asia, in meadows, grassland, heath, and open woodland. H. lanatus has spread widely as an introduced grass across North America, Australia, and New Zealand.

Suggested Uses

Used in wildflower meadows, naturalistic grassland, and rough or damp areas where a soft-textured grass is wanted, and as livestock forage in pasture. Plants are left to form drifts rather than spaced as specimens. The velvety foliage and early seed heads suit informal and wild plantings.

How to Identify

Recognized by soft, densely hairy, grey-green leaves and sheaths that feel velvety to the touch, and by loose branched flower panicles that open pale green tinged pink to purple before turning straw. Yorkshire fog H. lanatus forms tufts with pink-veined sheaths, while H. mollis creeps by rhizomes. The soft felted hairs separate Holcus spp. from most other meadow grasses.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height8" - 3'4"

Width/Spread8" - 1'6"

Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~6 weeks

Spring Summer

The branched flower heads open from late spring into summer, roughly May to August, pale green flushed with pink or purple. They fade to straw as the seed ripens and can persist into autumn. Each plant sheds large numbers of wind-blown seeds.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

pale green to pink-purple, fading to straw

Foliage Description

soft grey-green, velvety

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

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

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.0 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay sand

Drainageaverage

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

establishes within one to two seasons

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Holcus spp. needs little care and grows in most soils in full sun to part shade, tolerating damp ground, poor fertility, and acidic conditions with a pH around 5.0-7.0. It is sown from seed in spring or autumn and establishes quickly without special treatment. Because it self-seeds heavily and H. mollis spreads by rhizomes, plants move into surrounding ground unless cut before the seed ripens. Mowing or shearing before flowering limits spread. The grasses tolerate cutting and grazing and regrow from the base. In gardens they are usually treated as a wild or meadow grass rather than a border plant.

Pruning

Cut or mow the clumps before the flower heads set seed to limit self-sowing and keep growth dense. A hard cut in late winter clears old foliage before new spring growth. The plants regrow readily from the base after cutting.