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Grass Like

Alopecurus myosuroides

black grass

An annual grass forming tufts to 80cm tall with narrow, rough-textured leaves up to 16cm long and yellow-green spikelets to 12cm long in summer. Generally considered as a weed in the UK

Other common names

black twitch
hunger grass
see morelamb's tail grass
land grass
mouse-tail grass
slender foxtail
cynffonwellt du

Synonyms

Alopecurus agrestis

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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Poaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: Yes
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Tufted
Genus: Alopecurus can be annual or perennial grasses, forming a clump of linear leaves, with erect stems bearing dense, spike-like panicles of small flowers in late spring and summer
Name status: Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Grows well in any moist, well-drained, fertile soil. Considered a weed in the UK. See coarse grasses in lawns for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Low Maintenance
Ground cover

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to a rust

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