Meadow Foxtail
Alopecurus pratensis
Species Details
Grasses & Sedges
- Family:
-
Poaceae
- Origin:
-
Native
- Habitat:
-
Meadows, Grassland
Image Gallery
When to See Me
How to Identify Me
Meadow Foxtail is a common perennial grass widely distributed across the UK that generally thrives in damp, fertile grassland and floodplain pastures. Flowering from as early as March to as late as June it’s one of the first grass species to flower each year, and it remains green throughout winter.
Its most distinctive feature are the soft, fluffy flowerheads that are said to resemble a fox’s tail, and this makes it a popular choice for gardeners and wildlife habitats. These can grow to around 10cm long, and have a green / purplish flower spike that sits above flat leaf blades.
Meadow Foxtail is often used in agriculture as a hay crop, as well as being featured in many wildflower seed mixes. The foxtail provides an excellent habitat for insects, and the purple stamen is particularly attractive to bees and other Pollinators.
Where to Find Me
Its presence at Rudha Mor is no accident. When the property was originally seeded in 2023, Meadow Foxtail was deliberately included as part of a wider strategy to encourage biodiversity and provide valuable food plants for grass-feeding butterfly caterpillars.
The best place to spot it is along the path as it crosses the meadow between Azaleas' Corner and the main car park.
Although Meadow Foxtail can officially begin flowering as early as March, the local microclimate at Rudha Mor means you're more likely to see its distinctive flower heads emerging from mid-April through to the end of June.
Learn More
Meadow Foxtail
Alopecurus pratensis
Image Gallery
Species Details
Grasses & Sedges
- Family:
-
Poaceae
- Origin:
-
Native
- Habitat:
-
Meadows, Grassland
Meadow Foxtail is a common perennial grass widely distributed across the UK that generally thrives in damp, fertile grassland and floodplain pastures. Flowering from as early as March to as late as June it’s one of the first grass species to flower each year, and it remains green throughout winter.
Its most distinctive feature are the soft, fluffy flowerheads that are said to resemble a fox’s tail, and this makes it a popular choice for gardeners and wildlife habitats. These can grow to around 10cm long, and have a green / purplish flower spike that sits above flat leaf blades.
Meadow Foxtail is often used in agriculture as a hay crop, as well as being featured in many wildflower seed mixes. The foxtail provides an excellent habitat for insects, and the purple stamen is particularly attractive to bees and other Pollinators.
Its presence at Rudha Mor is no accident. When the property was originally seeded in 2023, Meadow Foxtail was deliberately included as part of a wider strategy to encourage biodiversity and provide valuable food plants for grass-feeding butterfly caterpillars.
The best place to spot it is along the path as it crosses the meadow between Azaleas' Corner and the main car park.
Although Meadow Foxtail can officially begin flowering as early as March, the local microclimate at Rudha Mor means you're more likely to see its distinctive flower heads emerging from mid-April through to the end of June.
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