Shortawn Foxtail: A Native Wetland Grass for Water-Loving Gardens
If you’ve been searching for a native grass that absolutely loves wet feet, let me introduce you to shortawn foxtail (Alopecurus aequalis). This unassuming perennial grass might not win any beauty contests, but it’s a champion when it comes to thriving in consistently moist conditions where other plants might throw in the towel.
What is Shortawn Foxtail?
Shortawn foxtail is a native North American grass that belongs to the Poaceae family. As a perennial with a bunch-type growth form, it forms neat clumps rather than spreading aggressively like some of its grassier cousins. The plant typically reaches about 2.5 feet tall with a decumbent (somewhat sprawling) growth habit, making it perfect for naturalistic plantings.
This grass produces inconspicuous green flowers in mid-spring, followed by brown seeds from spring through summer. While the flowers won’t stop traffic, they serve their purpose in the plant world through wind pollination.
Where Does It Call Home?
Talk about a well-traveled native! Shortawn foxtail has one of the most impressive native ranges you’ll find, naturally occurring across Alaska, Canada (including Greenland), and throughout most of the lower 48 states. From Alberta to Arizona, from Maine to California, this adaptable grass has made itself at home in wetland habitats across the continent.
Why Consider Growing Shortawn Foxtail?
Here’s where this grass really shines – it’s what botanists call an obligate wetland plant, meaning it almost always occurs in wetlands. If you have a persistently soggy spot in your yard that makes you scratch your head about what to plant, shortawn foxtail might just be your answer.
Perfect Garden Situations
Shortawn foxtail works beautifully in:
- Rain gardens and bioswales
- Pond or stream margins
- Wetland restoration projects
- Naturalistic water features
- Areas with poor drainage
Growing Conditions
This grass has some specific preferences that make it quite different from your typical lawn grass:
- Moisture: High water needs – this plant loves consistently wet conditions
- Soil: Adapts well to fine and medium-textured soils, but skip the sandy spots
- pH: Tolerates a range from 5.5 to 8.0
- Light: Intermediate shade tolerance, so it can handle some shade
- Temperature: Extremely cold hardy (down to -38°F!)
- Drainage: High anaerobic tolerance – it can handle waterlogged conditions
USDA Hardiness Zones
Given its incredible cold tolerance and widespread native range, shortawn foxtail thrives in USDA zones 2 through 8, making it suitable for most temperate North American gardens.
Planting and Care Tips
Growing shortawn foxtail is refreshingly straightforward, though you might face one challenge – finding it! Commercial availability is listed as no known source, so you may need to collect seeds from wild populations (where legally permitted) or contact native plant societies.
Propagation:
- Grow from seed – it’s the only reliable propagation method
- Seeds are small (about 1,464,000 per pound!)
- Moderate spread rate once established
- No cold stratification required
Care:
- Keep consistently moist – drought tolerance is low
- Minimal fertilizer needs (medium fertility requirement)
- Active growing season is spring and summer
- Moderate growth rate
- Short lifespan means you may need to reseed periodically
Wildlife and Ecological Benefits
While specific wildlife benefits aren’t well-documented, as a native wetland grass, shortawn foxtail likely provides habitat for various insects and may serve as nesting material for birds. Its seeds, though small, could provide food for seed-eating birds and small mammals.
The Bottom Line
Shortawn foxtail isn’t going to be the star of your flower border, but if you’re dealing with wet areas or working on wetland restoration, this native grass could be exactly what you need. Its unpretentious nature and excellent adaptation to wet conditions make it a valuable addition to water-wise and ecologically minded gardens.
Just remember – this is definitely a right plant, right place situation. Give it the wet conditions it craves, and you’ll have a happy, if modest, native grass that’s perfectly at home in North American landscapes.
