Cynosurus cristatus L.
Crested Dog's-Tail
Crested dog's-tail is a short-lived perennial grass native to Britain and across Europe, forming compact, wiry tufts of fine, dark green leaves. Its flowerhead is distinctive: a narrow, stiff spike that is flattened and comb-like, with the spikelets ranged along one side, giving the dense, one-sided look that earns the plant its name.
About
Crested dog's-tail is a short-lived perennial grass native to Britain and across Europe, forming compact, wiry tufts of fine, dark green leaves. Its flowerhead is distinctive: a narrow, stiff spike that is flattened and comb-like, with the spikelets ranged along one side, giving the dense, one-sided look that earns the plant its name. The tough flowering stems persist into late summer after the leaves have been grazed or cut.
It is one of the most reliable grasses of species-rich meadows and pastures, growing on a wide range of soils but avoiding the most acid and the most strongly calcareous extremes, and preferring well-drained ground in full sun. Hard-wearing and tolerant of grazing and trampling, it is a mainstay of traditional grassland and amenity meadow mixes, helping to bind a fine, low sward in which wildflowers can establish. Its seed is taken by finches and other small birds.
Also known as
Crested Dogstail · Crested Dogstail Grass · Crested Dog’s Tail Grass · crested dogtail · crested dogtail grass
Synonyms
Cynosurus creticus · Cynosurus cristatus ciliatus · Cynosurus cristatus coloratus · Cynosurus cristatus foliosus · Cynosurus cristatus giganteus · Cynosurus cristatus ovatus · Cynosurus cristatus polystachyus · Cynosurus cristatus pratensis · Cynosurus cristatus tenuis · Cynosurus cristatus tenuissimus
In our seed mixes
- BFS 1 – Traditional Hay Meadow Wildflower Mix
- BFS 10 – Species Rich Wildflower Meadow Seed Mix
- BFS 11 – Coastal Meadow Grassland Seed Mix
- BFS 2 – Acid Grassland Wildflower Seed Mix for Sandy or Peaty Soils
- BFS 3 – Floodplain Meadow Grassland Seed Mix
- BFS 4 – Heavy Clay Soil Wildflower Seed Mix
- BFS 5 – Wetland & Pond Edge Wildflower Seed Mix
- BFS 6 – Hedgerow & Shade Wildflower Seed Mix
- BFS 7 – Calcareous Grassland Wildflower Seed Mix
- BFS 8 – High Nutrient Initial Establishment Wildflower Grassland Mix – 50% Flora
- BFS 9 – Country Meadow Wildflower Seed Mix
Beta — under active development. This catalogue is still being built and accuracy-checked. The information here (including plant identifications, British native status, soil and sun/shade preferences) is provided in good faith for general guidance only and may contain errors or omissions. It must not be relied upon on its own — please confirm details with us before making planting, specification, foraging or purchasing decisions, and never eat or medicinally use any plant based on this catalogue alone, as some species are toxic. To the extent permitted by law, Phoenix Amenity Supplies accepts no liability for any loss arising from use of this information.