Marsh foxtail.

At a glance

Care level

Easy

Plant type

Grass

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Indoor light

Bright indirect

Water

Every 1 to 3 days

Mature size

1 to 2 feet

Growth rate

Fast

Hardiness

USDA 4 to 9

Bloom time

Late spring to mid summer

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist because this plant thrives in wet conditions. Watch for wilting if the soil dries out too much. It is quite hardy and adapts well to various water levels as long as it stays damp.

Watering

Keep the soil constantly damp to mimic its natural wetland habitat.

Feeding

Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer during the growing season.

Pruning

Trim back dead foliage in late winter to encourage fresh spring growth.

Repotting

Repot when the roots become crowded or the plant outgrows its container.

Soil

Moist, heavy, or clay soils

Soil pH

Neutral to acidic

Temperature

-34 to 30°C

Humidity

40 to 80%

Safety

People

There are no known toxic effects to humans from contact with this plant.

Children

The grass is generally safe, but the seed heads can be a choking hazard if ingested by small children.

Contact allergens

The foliage can cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals due to fine hairs.

Airborne allergens

The pollen can trigger seasonal allergies in sensitive people during the flowering period.

Edibility

This grass is not considered edible for humans and may cause digestive upset if consumed.

How to identify it

• Slender, cylindrical flower spikes
• Bent, knee like stem joints
• Soft, light green foliage
• Grows in spreading clumps

Height

0.1 to 0.45m

Spread

0.15 to 0.3m

Leaves

green, deciduous

Flowers

green, yellow, 2 to 5cm

Fruit

tan, late summer

Problems to watch for

• Rust · Fungal infection causing orange or brown spots on leaves during humid weather.

Growing it

Propagation

seed, division

When to plant

spring, autumn

Group this grass with other moisture-loving perennials to create a stable, low-maintenance bog garden.

Grows well with

• Marsh Marigold · They share similar moisture requirements and bloom at complementary times.
• Blue Flag Iris · This iris provides a striking vertical contrast to the low growing grass.

Similar species

• Meadow Foxtail · It is a larger, more upright relative that prefers slightly drier soil.

Science

Family

Poaceae

Genus

Alopecurus

Order

Poales

Class

Liliopsida

Native range

Europe, Asia, and North America.

Conservation

This species is widespread and not of conservation concern.

It thrives in damp meadows and along the margins of ponds where it can tolerate periodic flooding.

Value to wildlife

larval host plant, seed source for birds

Pollinators

bees, butterflies

Uses

wetland restoration, erosion control, ornamental grass

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does it need a lot of water?

Yes, it prefers consistently moist to wet soil conditions.

Can it grow in full shade?

It prefers full sun but will tolerate partial shade.

Where the name comes from

The genus name Alopecurus comes from the Greek words for fox and tail, describing the shape of the flower spike, while geniculatus means bent like a knee.

Good to know

• It is commonly known as marsh foxtail.
• The stems often bend at the nodes, which gives it a distinct knee-like appearance.
• It is an excellent choice for rain gardens.