Green foxtail (Setaria viridis) is a bright green clumping annual weed common in turf and pasture areas. The seedheads can be distinguished from those of other foxtails because they are smaller and greener with long hairs. Yellow foxtail has a wider seedhead, with shorter bristles. In addition, yellow foxtail has hairs on the leaf margins and ligule. Giant foxtail has the largest seedhead of the three and this seedhead is drooping.

These grasses occur infrequently in North Carolina in highly maintained turf but can be common in utility turf, such as along roadsides. Maintaining a dense, healthy turf year round by proper mowing and fertilization helps prevent encroachment and weed establishment.

• SEEDHEAD / FLOWER
  • seedhead a soft spike, oval in shape and long hairs on each seed.
    Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3, Figure 4, Figure 5
• VERNATION TYPE
  • leaves rolled in the bud
• LIGULE TYPE
  • dense fringe of hairs, 0.03 - 0.04 inches (0.8 - 1 mm) long
    Figure 6
• GROWTH SEASON / LIFE CYCLE
  • summer annual weed
• AURICLE TYPE
  • absent
• LEAF BLADE TIP SHAPE
  • sharp-pointed; flat, not hairy, slightly rough
    Figure 7
• LEAF BLADE WIDTH
  • up to 0.5 inches (12 mm) wide
• STOLON PRESENCE
  • absent
• RHIZOME PRESENCE
  • absent
• COLLAR TYPE
  • divided; hairy on edges
    Figure 8, Figure 9
• SHEATH MARGIN
  • split with overlapping margins; edges hairy
• SHEATH TYPE
  • flattened; sheath is not hairy
    ​Figure 10, Figure 11

Figure 1. Green foxtail seedhead.

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Figure 1. Green foxtail seedhead.

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Figure 2. Green foxtail seedhead.

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Figure 2. Green foxtail seedhead.

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Figure 3. Green foxtail seedhead.

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Figure 3. Green foxtail seedhead.

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Figure 4. Green foxtail seedhead.

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Figure 4. Green foxtail seedhead.

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Figure 5. Green foxtail seedhead.

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Figure 5. Green foxtail seedhead.

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Figure 6. Green foxtail ligule.

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Figure 6. Green foxtail ligule.

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Figure 7. Green foxtail leaf blade width.

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Figure 7. Green foxtail leaf blade width.

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Figure 8. Green foxtail collar.

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Figure 8. Green foxtail collar.

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Figure 9. Green foxtail collar.

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Figure 9. Green foxtail collar.

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Figure 10. Green foxtail.

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Figure 10. Green foxtail.

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Figure 11. Green foxtail.

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Figure 11. Green foxtail.

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