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Phleum pratense

timothy grass

Poaceae Europe and temperate Asia

Attracts Butterflies

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 3–8

Overview

Phleum pratense is a cool-season perennial bunchgrass 20-40 inches (50-100 cm) tall, sometimes reaching 60 inches (150 cm), growing in dense tufts from a swollen, corm-like stem base. The flat, grey-green to blue-green leaf blades are 4-18 inches (10-45 cm) long and rough to the touch, with prominent ligules where they meet the stem. From early to midsummer each stem carries a dense, cylindrical spike-like panicle 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) long, grey-green and bristly, packed with tiny flowers whose protruding stamens and short awns give the head a soft, fuzzy outline that resembles a cat tail. The heads ripen to pale straw and shed light, wind-borne seed. P. pratense grows in meadows, pastures, roadsides, and field margins, and is among the chief hay and forage grasses of temperate farming. It forms tight clumps rather than running, and the shallow roots leave it sensitive to prolonged drought.

Native Range

Phleum pratense is native to most of Europe and temperate Asia and has been introduced across North America, South America, Australia, and other temperate regions as a forage grass. It grows in moist meadows, grasslands, and disturbed ground, and has naturalised widely outside its native range.

Suggested Uses

Grown chiefly as a hay and pasture grass for cattle, horses, and other livestock. It is used in meadow and naturalistic grass mixes and for erosion control on moist banks. The cylindrical seed heads also feature in cut and dried grass arrangements.

How to Identify

Timothy is recognised by its dense, cylindrical, grey-green flower head, 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) long, that stays firm and spike-like rather than spreading open. The base of each stem swells into a bulb-like corm, a key field mark. The cylindrical, bristly head separates it from foxtail grasses, whose softer spikes taper at the tip, and from meadow grasses with open, branched panicles.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1'8" - 3'4"

Width/Spread1' - 1'6"

Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years

Colors

Flower Colors

green

Foliage Colors

green

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks

Summer

The grass flowers from June to August, with anthers and feathery stigmas emerging from the cylindrical head. It is wind-pollinated, so the heads are not showy. Seed ripens through late summer, turning the heads pale straw before they shed.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

grey-green to blue-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-12 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 Range5.5 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay silt

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

1-2 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grow Phleum pratense in full sun to light shade on moist, fertile soil, including loam and clay, at a slightly acidic to neutral pH. It is hardy through USDA zones 3 to 8 as a cool-season grass that grows most strongly in spring and autumn and slows in summer heat. The shallow roots make it sensitive to drought, so it grows most strongly where soil stays moist. Sow seed in spring or late summer onto a firm, weed-free bed for pasture or meadow use. Cut or graze before the heads fully ripen for better forage quality. It tolerates cold and wet ground better than heat and dryness.

Pruning

Mow or graze in late spring and again through summer to keep growth leafy and stop the heads from setting seed. Cut the clump to a few inches in late autumn to clear old growth. Close mowing in summer drought weakens the shallow roots.