About
Avena fatua is an annual grass that forms dense clumps and typically grows in an upright manner. Its slender, arching stems can attain a height of up to 1.5 meters, spreading approximately 50 centimeters. The foliage consists of linear, flat leaves that are rough to the touch, usually presenting a blue-green to grey-green hue and measuring up to 30 centimeters in length. The leaf blades exhibit a distinctive texture due to fine hairs covering their surfaces. From late spring to early summer, it produces loose, nodding flower panicles. The flowers display a greenish tone with purplish highlights, while the spikelets feature elongated, twisted awns, contributing to the plant's light and airy appearance.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H5
Plant details
- Plant type
- Grass Like
- Habit
- Tufted
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 1-1.5 metres
- Spread
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 1 year
- Suggested uses
- Wildflower meadow, Wildlife gardens
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grows well in a wide range of soil, but thrives in moist, but well-drained soil in full sun. See Creating wildflower meadows for further advice
- Pruning
- For more information see our page on how to cut back deciduous grasses
- Propagation
- Propagate by sowing seeds outdoors
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free