Green foxtail
Setaria viridis · Poaceae
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant green foxtail: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Foliage
- Deciduous, light green
- Flowering
- Summer to fall (July-October)
- Adult size
- 12 to 24 inches tall
- Growth
- Fast
- Hardiness
- Tender, annual or frost-sensitive
- Origin
- Temperate and tropical regions of Asia and Africa
- Soil type
- Well-draining, tolerates poor soils
- Exposure
- Full sun
Care
Exposure
Place your green foxtail in full sun for optimal growth and denser coloring. It tolerates partial shade but will be less vigorous. Avoid overly shaded areas.
Watering
Water regularly during the growing season, especially in hot and dry weather, to keep the soil slightly moist. Reduce watering in fall. Once established, it can tolerate short dry spells.
Soil and Planting
Prefer well-draining soil to prevent root asphyxiation. Green foxtail adapts to poor or nutrient-depleted soils. No base fertilization is necessary—it grows naturally in lean soil.
Fertilizer
Undemanding, green foxtail requires only moderate mineral feeding during the growing season. A simple balanced fertilizer applied once or twice in spring-summer is enough. Avoid excess nitrogen, which would promote too much foliage at the expense of structure.
Pruning and Maintenance
No strict pruning is necessary. You can cut back the clump after flowering or trim it to ground level in fall before winter. Leaving the flower spikes in place extends the graphic effect late in the season.
Diseases and Pests
Very resistant to common diseases and pests. Problems mainly arise from excess moisture (rot). Promote air circulation and drainage to prevent any issues.
Did you know?
Setaria viridis is known as one of the world's most invasive 'weeds,' but it was also the first grass species used as a model organism in molecular genetics. Its small panicles bristling with yellow-green awns allow it to disperse effectively by wind and by clinging to clothing.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Tufted hair grassDeschampsia cespitosa
- Wavy hair-grassAvenella flexuosa
- Purple moor-grassMolinia caerulea
- Reed canary-grassPhalaris arundinacea
- Common quaking grassBriza media
- Creeping soft-grassHolcus mollis
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.