Poaceae
Yellow Foxtail (Setaria pumila)
Setaria pumila
Hardly anyone grows this grass on purpose: it comes up on its own in warm weather. It lives for a single year, so control means stopping it from setting seed. Pull or mow it before the seed heads ripen.
Every 7 days
Bright indirect
° - °C
% - %
Categories
What is Yellow Foxtail?
Yellow Foxtail (Setaria pumila) is a easy-care plant from the Poaceae family. Yellow foxtail is an annual grass from Europe and Asia, now a common weed worldwide. It forms clumps from 20 cm to more than 1 metre tall. The seed head is a dense cylinder about 4 to 8 cm long, covered in stiff yellow to purplish bristles. It looks a lot like green foxtail, but it has long, sparse...
Yellow Foxtail grows up to 1.3m, watering every 7 days. It is not suitable for indoor environments and safe for pets.
Unlike many tropical plants, Yellow Foxtail tolerates watering mistakes. Best for beginners. Unlike many popular species, Yellow Foxtail is safe to keep around pets.
How to Care for Yellow Foxtail?
TLDR: Yellow Foxtail needs Bright indirect, watering every 7 days, and temperatures between 15-30°C with 40-70% humidity.
How Often Should You Water Yellow Foxtail?
It needs no watering. It tolerates drought and lives on rainfall, though it grows larger in fertile soil.
How Much Light Does Yellow Foxtail Need?
It grows in sun and part shade, mainly in open places.
What Is the Best Soil for Yellow Foxtail?
It is most often found on sandy soil but thrives in rich soil too. In lawns it moves into bare patches and disturbed ground.
What Pot Should You Use for Yellow Foxtail?
Not a pot plant. If it comes up in a pot, pull it while small.
What Is Yellow Foxtail and Where Does It Come From?
Yellow foxtail is an annual grass from Europe and Asia, now a common weed worldwide. It forms clumps from 20 cm to more than 1 metre tall. The seed head is a dense cylinder about 4 to 8 cm long, covered in stiff yellow to purplish bristles. It looks a lot like green foxtail, but it has long, sparse hairs on the leaf near the base. You will see it in lawns, sidewalk cracks, crop fields and roadsides. It spreads only by seed.
How to Propagate Yellow Foxtail?
Seed
This is its only way of spreading. Cutting it before seed forms does the most to control it.
- 1 Seed drops on its own in late summer and fall
- 2 It germinates the next spring as the soil warms
- 3 It sprouts best 2 to 3 cm deep, at 20 to 35 °C
Materials needed:
How Big Does Yellow Foxtail Grow?
TLDR: Yellow Foxtail can reach up to 1.3m tall with Medium growth rate.
Max height
1.3m
Is your plant showing symptoms?
Click on the symptom to discover possible causes:
What Diseases Commonly Affect Yellow Foxtail?
TLDR: Yellow Foxtail is susceptible to 1 known diseases. Monitor regularly for early detection.
Fun Facts
A single plant can produce 3,000 to 4,000 seeds
In New Zealand it can cover 20 to 40% of some dairy pastures
Older books list it as Setaria glauca
Frequently asked questions
How do I get rid of yellow foxtail in a lawn?
Is yellow foxtail harmful to horses?
How can I tell it from green foxtail?
Will it come back next year?
Compare with similar plants
| Attribute | Difficulty | Light | Watering | Pet Safe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Field Maple | Easy | Bright indirect | 14d | ✓ |
| Muriel's Bamboo | Medium | Partial shade | 3d | ✓ |
| Iberian Houseleek | Easy | Direct sun | 14d | ✓ |
| Silver Birch | Easy | Direct sun | 14d | ✓ |
