Slender Foxtail Plant Care
Alopecurus myosuroides Huds.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Alopecurus myosuroides is an annual grass, native to Eurasia, found in moist meadows, deciduous forests, and on cultivated and waste land. It is also known as slender meadow foxtail, black-grass, twitch grass, and black twitch.
Every 3–5 days
Full sun to partial shade
60–80°F
40–70%
At a glance
How do you care for Slender Foxtail?
Water Slender Foxtail every 3–5 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to partial shade. It prefers temperatures of 60–80°F (16–27°C) and 40–70% humidity. Fertilize it every 8 months during the growing season.
What Is the Slender Foxtail?
Slender Foxtail (Alopecurus myosuroides) belongs to the Poaceae family within the Alopecurus genus. Slender Foxtail is native to Eurasia, found in moist meadows, deciduous forests, and on cultivated and waste land. Slender Foxtail is also known as Blackgrass, Mouse-tail Grass.
Slender Foxtail displays an upright, clumping grass growth habit, reaching up to 2 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1.5 ft. Slender Foxtail produces small, inconspicuous flowers in terminal panicles.
Leaf size: approximately 6 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Slender Foxtail?
Alopecurus myosuroides requires watering every 3–5 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 3–5 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Slender Foxtail Need?
Slender Foxtail thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Slender Foxtail Prefer?
Alopecurus myosuroides grows best at temperatures of 60–80°F. Slender Foxtail prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.
Temperature
60–80°F
Humidity
40–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Slender Foxtail?
Moist, well-draining loamy soil with high organic content. Good drainage is essential for Slender Foxtail to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Slender Foxtail?
Feed Slender Foxtail every 8 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 8 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Slender Foxtail?
Divide and repot every 2-3 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Slender Foxtail?
Slender Foxtail can be propagated through seeds, division. Similar propagation techniques also apply to water foxtail plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Slender Foxtail Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Slender Foxtail, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Slender Foxtail?
Slender Foxtail is susceptible to aphids, grasshoppers, cutworms. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Slender Foxtail Need?
Slender Foxtail grows outdoors in USDA Zone 13a. It survives winters down to planting zone 13a. Slender Foxtail is native to Eurasia, found in moist meadows, deciduous forests, and on cultivated and waste land. In cooler regions, grow Slender Foxtail as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 13a
Keep exploring plants
Slender Foxtail is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Alopecurus genus — compare its care with other Alopecurus species on PlantoScan.
Alopecurus is part of the Poaceae plant family — browse all Poaceae genera and species.
Slender Foxtail thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Alopecurus Species
Other Alopecurus species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Alopecurus myosuroides Huds., family Poaceae (first published in Fl. Angl. : 23 (1762)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Slender Foxtail, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 13a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
Identify Plants Like the
Slender Foxtail Instantly
Scan any plant with your phone camera and get instant ID, care tips, water and fertilizer reminders, and health checks — all in one app.
Free
to download
iOS & Android
platforms
Light & dark
mode
100,000+
species