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Annual BiennialGrass Like

Setaria macrostachya

plains bristle grass

A perennial grass usually grown as an annual, with linear leaves becoming brown with maturity, and slender, millet-like flowering panicles in summer

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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

1–2 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

North–facing or East–facing or South–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Poaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming
Genus: Setaria can be annual or perennial grasses, with linear to elliptic leaves and small flowers in a panicle, the spikelets with a tuft of conspicuous bristles
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Mexico, adjacent USA

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in light, well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in mid spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Wildlife gardens
Banks and slopes
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut back after flowering

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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