Silver Hairgrass
ExplorePlants
Silver Hairgrass
Aira caryophyllea
Silver Hairgrass is a lovely grass that grows in fields and meadows. Its soft, silver-green blades sway gently in the breeze, making it look like a shimmering wave of grass.
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The Silver Hairgrass has delicate, slender stems that form small, airy tufts. Its leaves are silvery-green, and in spring and summer, it produces tiny, shimmering flower spikes that sparkle in the sunlight, giving it a distinctive 'hairy' look.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassLiliopsidaOrderPoalesFamilyPoaceaeGenusAira
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Even though it's small, this tough little grass can grow almost anywhere, from sandy fields to rocky hillsides!
It's an 'annual' plant, meaning it grows, blooms, and makes seeds all in just one year!
Many small insects and caterpillars hide among its slender leaves, using it as a secret shelter!
Silver Hairgrass earned its name because its tiny flower spikes shimmer like silver in the sunlight!
Special abilities
Ability
Quick Colonizer
Silver Hairgrass can grow rapidly in disturbed soil, helping it quickly establish itself in new, open areas.
Ability
Drought Survivor
It completes its entire life cycle quickly, allowing it to produce seeds before dry conditions become too harsh.
Ability
Sunlight Shimmer
Its delicate seed heads reflect sunlight, making them very visible and potentially aiding wind dispersal.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 10-30 cm
- Spread
- 5-15 cm
- Bloom Season
- Spring-Summer
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Annual
- Pollination Method
- Wind
Ecological connections
eaten by
Domestic Sheep
Ovis aries
Grazing animals often feed on its leaves and seeds.
shelters
Meadow Plant Bug
Leptopterna dolabrata
Small insects use its dense tufts for hiding from predators.
eaten by
European Goldfinch
Carduelis carduelis
Small birds, like finches, enjoy eating its tiny seeds.
Traits
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Grass-Like
Grass-like plants are herbaceous plants that visually resemble true grasses, typically having long, narrow leaves.
Drought Tolerant
Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Rapid Growing
Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always be gentle with plants and don't pull them out of the ground.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Silver Hairgrass?
10-30 cm
How wide does Silver Hairgrass spread?
5-15 cm
When does Silver Hairgrass bloom?
Spring-Summer
Is Silver Hairgrass edible?
No
Is Silver Hairgrass toxic?
None
What is Silver Hairgrass's lifecycle?
Annual
How is Silver Hairgrass pollinated?
Wind
Where is Silver Hairgrass usually found?
Grasslands
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