Small Canary Grass, Littleseed canarygrass
Phalaris minor
Family: Poaceae or Gramineae
What it is like
Phalaris minor is a ANNUAL growing to 1.2 m (4ft) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. It is in leaf from May to October, in flower from June to July. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.
Height (m): 1.2
Where it is found
Sandy soils.
Europe - Mediterranean to northwest France. Naturalized, or perhaps native, in the Channel Islands.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 1
Seed - cooked. The seed can be ground into a flour and used in making bread, cakes etc. It is rather small and fiddly to utilize.
Medicine
Rating: 0
Other
Rating: 0
How it is grown
An easily grown plant, succeeding in an ordinary garden soil. It is tolerant of most conditions, dry or wet.
Propagating it: Seed - sow spring in situ.
Best place to grow: Cultivated Beds;
Habit: Annual
Hardiness: 5-9
Growth:
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: No shade
Moisture: Moist, wet