Overview
Holcus 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 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 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
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height8" - 3'4"
Width/Spread8" - 1'6"
Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
pale green to pink-purple, fading to strawFoliage Description
soft grey-green, velvetyGrowing 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