Foxtail – meadow plant
Foxtail are two completely different plant species. The people call it both meadow grass and tropical bush. Their inflorescence shape and use in ornamental gardening are connected.
Another name for this representative of the family of cereals is “alopecurus”, or “meadow batlatch”. It is a perennial plant 50-110 cm long with a bare stem, which ends with a spike-shaped panicle resembling a fox’s tail. Batlatch blooms in June in the morning from 4 to 8 o’clock. Its pollen is a strong allergen.
The foxtail inflorescence resembles a bushy tail
It is found all over the planet, with the exception of tropical countries. Along with bluegrass and timothy, alopecurus is a grass stand in meadows and is known as a valuable forage plant. This grass grows well in flooded meadows, because it loves moist soil.
In the garden, you can grow this cereal as an ornamental plant. It is unpretentious:
- prefers peaty, clayey or loamy soils;
- the soil should be loose, fertile and sufficiently moist;
- slightly shaded or sunny areas are suitable for him;
- the cereal does not tolerate drought.
The main task during cultivation is not to dry out the soil. Twice a season, you can feed it with mineral fertilizer.
Low-rise varieties of alopecurus look good along curbs. The grass goes well with other decorative grasses, complements alpine slides and mixborders.
Another fox tail belongs to the milkweed family and is called “akalifa”. It is a tropical plant: shrub or tree. This flower is characterized by serrated leaves, similar to nettles, and bright red and white inflorescences. Fluffy inflorescences can reach a length of 50 cm. These “tails” are a bit like birch catkins in shape and arrangement on the bush.
Not all plant varieties have such expressive inflorescences, some are decorative with their foliage of different colors. The following varieties of akalifa are distinguished:
- rough;
- uilksa;
- bristle;
- bristly hairy.
Fox tail care consists of maintaining the correct temperature, watering and feeding. The room temperature is ideal for him. The plant needs a slightly acidic soil with good drainage. In the summer you need to water abundantly, without flooding the flower, in the winter – less often. If the air is dry, the plant should be sprayed with water. It is necessary to feed the Akalifa in spring and summer with mineral and organic fertilizers about once every 2 weeks. Keep it on the windowsill, protecting it from direct sunlight.
The decorative properties of each of these plants are interesting in their own way, but precautions should be taken: alopecurus is not suitable for allergy sufferers, and all milkweeds are poisonous.
ticö