Cocksfoot - Dactylis glomerata

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Cocksfoot - Dactylis glomerata
© Dr Chris Gibson/English Nature

This dense, tufted perennial grass has bluish-green leaves that are flattened at the base and are sharply pointed. The long flowering stems are topped with pyramidal, branched, densely packed, purplish flower spikelets vaguely reminiscent of a chicken's foot, hence the name.

This plant is often found in woodland rides, meadows, and rough grassland. It is an important ingredient of hay meadows and natural pastures, and is the food plant of several butterflies and moths found in gardens, such as the large skipper and the speckled wood, and of the drinker moth.

Animals

Drinker moth, Gatekeeper, Large skipper, Meadow brown, Meadow grasshopper, Small skipper, Speckled wood, Wall brown

Foliage	Green
Flower	Purple, June to September
Moisture	(Dry)
Sunlight	(Full sun to Part-shade)
Origin	Native