Plant DetailShow Menu

Giant Green Foxtail Setaria viridis

Phonetic Spelling
set-TARE-ee-uh VEER-ih-diss
Description

Green foxtail is a weedy and aggressive annual grass native to Eurasia.  It reproduces by seeds and can produce several generations in a single season. It will grow in sun to part shade in most soils, either moist to dry, blooms early and all season and spread quickly. 

The inflorescence is 1-4 inches long and often nods at the tip. The leaves are up to 12 inches long, 1 inch wide and light green. The form is multi-stemmed and spreading. It prefers disturbed areas with poor soil and usually doesn't invade high-quality natural areas as much. Some small mammals and grazing animals will eat this plant.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#summer annual weed#disturbed areas#annual weed#weed
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#summer annual weed#disturbed areas#annual weed#weed
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Setaria
    Species:
    viridis
    Family:
    Poaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Old World, Australia
    Dimensions:
    Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Weed
    Habit/Form:
    Dense
    Erect
    Multi-stemmed
    Prostrate
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    High
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Caryopsis
    Fruit Description:
    Oval, tapered and flattened seeds fall from the spikelet
  • Flowers:
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Panicle
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Description:
    Spike-like panicle that is 1-4 inches long, erect and often nods as it reaches the tip. 2-6 spikelets (flower clusters) are densely packed along the panicle. At the base of each are 1-3 bristles that are green or purple
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Sheath
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Linear
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Light green leaves are 2-12 inches long and about .5 to 1 inch wide with fine but distinctive veins and a drooping form. They are scabrous above, usually glabrous below and sheaths are sometimes purplish at the base with a few hairs.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Round
    Stem Description:
    Stems are green, smooth, erect to ascending the lower part is often prostrate, then grows upward.
  • Landscape:
    Problems:
    Weedy