Foxtail Millet
Setaria italica · Warm-season, Annual, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Pasture/Forage Grass, Ornamental, Bird Seed Crop
Variety / Cultivar
Common wild/cultivated type
Hardiness Zones
Grown globally as a warm-season summer annual; thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 10 during the frost-free growing season.
About This Grass
An erect, robust annual grass reaching heights of 2 to 5 feet with broad, flat leaf blades and a distinct dense, cylindrical, bristly panicle seed head resembling a foxtail, turning yellowish or pale at maturity.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse leaf blades exceeding 4mm in width, flat shape, pointed tips, medium green color, rolled vernation in the bud, scabrous texture with prominent central vein; membranous-fringed ligule, absent auricles, and a distinct collar region.
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system, non-thatching, fast establishment from seed, excellent early vigor, moderate drought tolerance once established but does not form a dense sod.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to China, cultivated worldwide in temperate and tropical regions
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming) annual grass, erect stems, non-spreading
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (6+ hours of direct sunlight), moderate water needs for optimal growth, good drought tolerance once established, prefers well-drained loamy or sandy soils with a neutral pH (6.0-7.0).
Mowing & Maintenance
Grown primarily as a forage or crop rather than a maintained lawn; if used as cover crop or forage, requires no standard mowing; low maintenance annual.
Special Characteristics
Low traffic/wear tolerance as an annual crop, susceptible to common rust and leaf spot, high forage and seed value for livestock and birds, excellent for temporary cover cropping and erosion control on disturbed soils.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in many parts of the world, highly valuable food source for granivorous birds and wildlife, excellent for temporary soil stabilization, widely used in agricultural rotations and wildlife food plots.