Timothy Grass
Phleum pratense · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae
Grass Category
Pasture/Forage Grass and Hay
Variety / Cultivar
Common or standard forage varieties such as 'Clair' or 'Climax'
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 8, displaying excellent winter cold tolerance and performing best in northern temperate regions.
About This Grass
An upright, tall-growing cool-season perennial grass typically reaching 20 to 40 inches in height when unmowed. Forms dense stands of palatable forage with distinctive cylindrical, spike-like panicle seed heads that resemble tiny cat-tails.
Blade Characteristics
Medium to coarse texture with flat, hairless, grayish-green or blue-green blades. Vernation is rolled in the bud. Features a prominent membranous ligule and lacks auricles.
Root System
Shallow to moderately deep fibrous root system with swollen, bulbous-like basal internodes (corms) that store nutrients. Establishes relatively quickly from seed but forms less dense sod than spreading grasses.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and temperate Asia; widely naturalized and cultivated across North America and temperate regions globally.
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming) without significant rhizomes or stolons, growing in dense tufts.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun and consistent moisture. Thrives in cool, humid climates with moderate to high moisture levels. Moderate to low drought tolerance.
Mowing & Maintenance
Maintained as a forage or hay crop rather than a lawn. Cut for hay at the boot to early bloom stage. Moderate fertility requirements, particularly responsive to nitrogen.
Special Characteristics
Highly palatable livestock feed especially prized for horses. Low traffic tolerance due to its bunch-type growth habit and lack of aggressive spreading structures.
Ecological Information
Widely cultivated introduced forage species. Provides excellent quality hay for livestock and serves as a component of mixed grass pastures and wildlife nesting cover.