Southwestern Bristle Grass
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(Setaria scheelei)
Southwestern Bristle Grass (Setaria scheelei)
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Abbey Forney
CC BY 4.0
Image By:
Abbey Forney
Recorded By:
Copyright:
CC BY 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Abbey Forney | License Type: CC BY 4.0 | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Rights Holder: Abbey Forney | Publisher: iNaturalist | Date Created: 2021-09-25T22:41:24Z |
Summary
Setaria scheelei, commonly known as Southwestern Bristle Grass, Scheele’s Foxtail, or Rough Bristlegrass, is a perennial grass native to the Southwestern United States and Northern Mexico. It thrives in a variety of habitats, including plains, mesquite groves, and the understory of pine-oak woodlands. This grass typically reaches a height of 2-3 feet (0.6-0.9 meters) and is characterized by its upright form and fine-textured foliage. The flowers are green and inconspicuous, blooming in the summer and fall, and are followed by bristly seed heads that can persist into winter.
Southwestern Bristle Grass is valued for its adaptability and low maintenance, making it suitable for naturalistic plantings and habitat restoration projects. It can be used for erosion control due to its fibrous root system and is also planted in wildflower meadows where it adds texture and movement. This grass prefers part shade to full shade and can tolerate a range of soil types, including clay, loam, and sandy soils, with medium drainage. While generally pest-free, it can self-seed prolifically, which may be considered undesirable in some garden settings.CC BY-SA 4.0
Southwestern Bristle Grass is valued for its adaptability and low maintenance, making it suitable for naturalistic plantings and habitat restoration projects. It can be used for erosion control due to its fibrous root system and is also planted in wildflower meadows where it adds texture and movement. This grass prefers part shade to full shade and can tolerate a range of soil types, including clay, loam, and sandy soils, with medium drainage. While generally pest-free, it can self-seed prolifically, which may be considered undesirable in some garden settings.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Grass
- Height: 2-3 feet
- Width: 1-2 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: N/A
- Flowering Season: Spring, Summer, Fall
- Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Part Shade, Full Shade
- Drainage: Medium
Common Uses
Low Maintenance
Natural Habitat
Native to plains, mesquite groves, and the understory of pine-oak woodlands
Other Names
Common Names: Scheele’s Foxtail, Rough Bristlegrass
Scientific Names: Setaria scheelei, Alopecurus geniculatus, Alopecurus geniculatus, Chaetochloa polystachya, Chaetochloa scheelei, Ixophorus scheelei, Panicum scheelei, Setaria polystachya
GBIF Accepted Name: Setaria scheelei