# harding grass (*Phalaris aquatica*)

Harding grass is a tough, green plant that grows in fields and along roadsides. It has long, slender leaves and can grow quite tall, making it a great home for small animals.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 1
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![harding grass](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Phalaris_aquatica.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Phalaris_aquatica.jpg)

## Appearance

The harding grass is a tall, clumping perennial that forms dense, bluish-green tussocks. Its leaves are broad and flat, and it produces erect, compact, spear-like flower heads, often with a purplish tinge, high above the foliage.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Liliopsida
- **Order:** Poales
- **Family:** Poaceae
- **Genus:** Phalaris

## Interesting facts

- Despite potential toxicity, this grass is widely planted as pasture for some animals.
- Farmers carefully manage how much their animals eat to avoid getting sick.
- It's sometimes called "bulbous canarygrass" because of its swollen stem base!
- This amazing grass can help stop soil from washing away with its strong roots!

## Special abilities

- **Survival Roots:** Harding grass has strong, deep roots that allow it to survive dry spells and grow back quickly even after fires or heavy grazing.
- **Toxic Shield:** Harding grass can produce special chemicals called alkaloids that make it unpalatable or even harmful to some grazing animals, protecting itself.
- **Regrowth Power:** Harding grass has the amazing ability to regrow rapidly from its base after being cut or grazed, helping it thrive in pastures.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 60-200 cm
- **Spread:** 30-60 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring-summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** High
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Wind

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** domestic sheep (*Ovis aries*) — Can be consumed by sheep, but toxic in high amounts.
- **Eaten by:** domestic cattle (*Bos taurus*) — Used as fodder for cattle, with careful management to prevent poisoning.
- **Eats:** [differential grasshopper](https://www.snappit.app/explore/differential-grasshopper) (*Melanoplus differentialis*) — Larvae and adults may graze on its leaves.

## Traits

- [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
- [Grass-Like](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grass-like): Grass-like plants are herbaceous plants that visually resemble true grasses, typically having long, narrow leaves.
- [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
- [Agricultural](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/agricultural): This human use trait describes species cultivated or domesticated by humans for agricultural purposes, including crops and livestock.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always be careful when exploring plants and don't eat anything without asking an adult.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify harding grass?

Compare seed heads, stem shape, how leaves attach, and the joint where leaf meets stem. A patch of mown lawn rarely shows enough for an exact ID. Grass Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is harding grass?

60-200 cm

### How wide does harding grass spread?

30-60 cm

### When does harding grass bloom?

Spring-summer

### Is harding grass edible?

No

### Is harding grass toxic?

High

### What is harding grass's lifecycle?

Perennial

### How is harding grass pollinated?

Wind

## Where to spot

- [Benbow Lake State Recreation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/benbow-lake-state-recreation-area) — California, US · State Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Harding Grass: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/harding-grass)