Extension > Garden > Diagnose a problem > Is this plant a weed? > Grass > Foxtail
Foxtail: Yellow, Green, Giant
Setaria sp.
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Found in:
- Lawns and landscape beds
Characteristics:
- Annual grass that grows rapidly during warm weather (summer)
- Growing habit is clump type; somewhat loose and open
- Green Foxtail –leaf blade is flat to V-shaped, without hairs and may be rough to the touch
- Yellow Foxtail – leaf is flat to V-shaped, twisted in a loose spiral, distinctive long hairs near stem attachment, otherwise hairless
- Giant Foxtail – blade is linear, slightly hairy on upper surface; flowers are often nodding
- Flowers on all species are cylindrical and spike-like; said to resemble a fox’s tail
Significance
- Giant Foxtail (Setaria faberi) is a Minnesota Secondary Noxious Weed
- Maintain minimum 2 1/2 - 3” mowing height and good turfgrass density
- Causes mouth blisters in horses
