# Timothy Grass (*Phleum pratense*)

Timothy Grass is a favorite food for many animals, especially rabbits and horses! It’s a tall grass that grows in clumps.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 4
- **Habitat:** Fields and meadows
- **Also known as:** Timothy Hay

![Timothy Grass](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771438746/objects/5012.jpg)

## Appearance

The Timothy Grass has upright stems topped with a distinctive, dense, cylindrical flower and seed head, resembling a small green or purple bristly club. Its leaves are flat, pale green, and strap-like.

## Taxonomy

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

## Interesting facts

- A single Timothy Grass plant can produce tens of thousands of tiny seeds!
- Hay made from Timothy Grass is so nutritious, it helps make delicious milk!
- It's a super important food for cows, horses, and bunnies all over the world!
- This grass was named after Timothy Hanson, who introduced it widely in America!

## Special abilities

- **Wind Catcher:** Timothy Grass has feathery anthers and stigmas to easily catch and release pollen, helping it reproduce far and wide.
- **Deep Root Power:** Timothy Grass has a tough, fibrous root system that helps it hold soil together and survive dry conditions.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 50-150 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late spring to mid-summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Wind

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** [Cattle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cattle) (*Bos taurus*) — Primary forage for dairy and beef cattle.
- **Eaten by:** [Horse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/horse) (*Equus caballus*) — A key ingredient in horse hay for nutrition.
- **Eaten by:** [European Rabbit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-rabbit) (*Oryctolagus cuniculus*) — Wild and pet rabbits graze on its leaves and stems.

## Traits

- [Perennial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/perennial): Perennial plants live for more than two years, typically returning to grow and bloom each year from their roots.
- [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.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [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.

## Collections

- [Grasses](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/grasses)
- [Grasses, Shrubs & Bushes](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/grasses-shrubs-and-bushes)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Timothy 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 Timothy Grass?

50-150 cm

### When does Timothy Grass bloom?

Late spring to mid-summer

### Is Timothy Grass edible?

Yes

### Is Timothy Grass toxic?

None

### What is Timothy Grass's lifecycle?

Perennial

### How is Timothy Grass pollinated?

Wind

### Where is Timothy Grass usually found?

Fields and meadows

## Where to spot

- [Greenfield Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/greenfield-park) — Wisconsin, US · Park
- [Lily Gardens Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lily-gardens-park) — Illinois, US · Park
- [Hocking Valley Scenic Railway Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hocking-valley-scenic-railway-historic-district) — Ohio, US · Historic District
- [Nyack Ranger Station Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/nyack-ranger-station-historic-district) — Montana, US · Historic District

[View all places to see Timothy Grass](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/timothy-grass)

## 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: [Timothy Grass: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/timothy-grass)