Foxtail Millet

(Setaria italica)

Foxtail Millet (Setaria italica)

Dinesh Valke

CC BY-SA 2.0

Image By: Dinesh Valke

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Copyright Notice: Photo by: Dinesh Valke | License Type: CC BY-SA 2.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/ | Uploader: Dinesh Valke | Publisher: Flickr

Estimated Native Range

Summary

Setaria italica, commonly known as Foxtail Millet, is an annual grass that originates from the temperate regions of Eurasia, including the plains in Central China. It has been cultivated for over 5,000 years and is the second-most widely planted species of millet. Foxtail Millet typically reaches a height of 120–200 cm (3 ft 11 in – 6 ft 7 in) and features slim, vertical, leafy stems. The seedhead is a dense, hairy panicle 5–30 cm (2 in – 1 ft 0 in) long, and the small seeds are about 2 millimeters in diameter, encased in a thin, papery hull that is easily removed during threshing. Seed color varies among varieties, ranging from yellow to red to brown.

Foxtail Millet is valued for its rapid growth and ability to thrive in poor soil conditions, making it a reliable grain crop. It is also used as birdseed and forage for animals. In gardens, it can serve as an ornamental grass or as a temporary filler due to its interesting seedheads. This plant prefers full sun exposure and can tolerate drought, requiring low amounts of water. It adapts to a variety of soil types but performs best in well-drained soils. While it is not typically grown for ornamental purposes, its resilience and ease of growth make it a useful plant in cultivation. However, Foxtail Millet can be potentially invasive in some regions, so it is important to check local guidelines before planting it outside its native range.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

Plant Type: Grass
Height: 2-5 feet
Width: 1-3 feet
Growth Rate: Rapid
Flower Color: N/A
Flowering Season: Summer
Leaf Retention:

Growth Requirements

Sun: Full Sun
Water: Low
Drainage: Slow, Medium

Common Uses

Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Drought Tolerant, Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Low Maintenance

Natural Habitat

temperate regions of Eurasia, including the plains in Central China

Other Names

Common Names: Italian Bristle Grass, Italian Foxtail, Foxtail Bristlegrass, Italian Bristlegrass, Dwarf Setaria, Foxtail Bristle Grass, Giant Setaria, Italienische Borstenhirse, Kolbenhirse, Fennich

Scientific Names: , Setaria italica, Panicum italicum, Setaria italica subsp. italica, Setaria italica subsp. moharia, Setaria germanica, Panicum germanicum, Setaria californica, Setaria macrochaeta, Setaria italica var. germanica

GBIF Accepted Name: Setaria italica (L.) P.Beauv.