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Phleum pratense
Also called Timothy Grass, Meadow Cat's Tail, Meadow Timothy, Common Timothy, Common Cat's Tail, Hurd Grass, Herd’s Grass
Timothy is a tufted perennial grass widely grown as hay and pasture for horses and cattle, and its dried hay is a staple food for pet rabbits and guinea pigs. It is hardy and tolerates heavy or poor soils, but it is usually grown as a field crop rather than an ornamental.
Timothy (Phleum pratense) is a species of perennial grass native to most of Europe and northern and western Asia. It is also known as timothy-grass, meadow cat's-tail or common cat's-tail. It is a member of the genus Phleum, which consists of 17 species of annual and perennial grasses.
It is probably named after Timothy Hanson, a British farmer and agriculturalist said to have introduced it from New England to the southern United States in the early 18th century. Upon his recommendation it became a major source of hay and cattle fodder to British farmers in the mid-18th century.
It is commonly grown for cattle feed and, in particular, as hay for horses. It is relatively high in fibre, especially when cut late. It is considered a harsh, coarse grass little relished by livestock if cut earlier. It is considered part of the standard mix for grass hay and provides quality nutrition for horses. Timothy hay is a staple food for domestic pet rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, and degus, often making up the bulk of their diet. Timothy hay is rich in long fibres and its abrasive texture helps to grind down the teeth, keeping both the teeth and jaw in good order.
Plants persist through the winter. Dead, straw-coloured flowering stems may persist, but only for a short time, and can be recognised by the distinctive spike-like inflorescence.
Some caterpillars use it as a food plant, e.g. the Essex skipper (Thymelicus lineola) and the marbled white (Melanargia galathea). It also grows in roadsides and abandoned fields but generally requires nutrient-rich soils.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Timothy (grass) by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
