Alopecurus pratensis Aureovariegatus - Vulpin des prés panaché, Queue-de-renard des prés

The Alopecurus pratensis ‘Aureovariegatus’, or variegated meadow foxtail, is a grass for moist soil, prized for its green foliage striped with golden yellow. Its growth begins early in spring, its brightly coloured leaves forming a soft clump, topped in May and June with short spikes reminiscent of little fox tails. Very hardy and easy to grow, this rather low-growing variety earns its place in sunny borders and naturalistic planting schemes.

Meadow foxtail belongs to the Poaceae family. The botanical species Alopecurus pratensis is widespread from the Azores and Europe as far as Mongolia and the western Himalayas. Common in France, it grows in moist meadows, ditches and fertile soils that retain moisture. 'Aureovariegatus' is its variegated horticultural form. It is a herbaceous perennial for temperate climates, whose growth dies back in winter before restarting in spring. It grows mainly during the cool periods of spring and autumn; its development slows in summer, particularly if the soil dries out. Short rootstocks allow it to spread gradually and form a dense clump, without producing the long underground stems of certain highly invasive grasses. The foliage reaches 40 to 45 cm in height and spreads 40 to 60 cm. The leaves, long and flat, are a few millimetres wide. Soft green in colour, they are striped lengthways with broad golden yellow bands, sometimes almost cream. The variegation is more pronounced in full sun; in partial shade, the foliage becomes greener but remains luminous. This plant flowers from May to June. Upright stems bear compact, cylindrical panicles, 4 to 8 cm long. Initially light green, these spikes become bristly with fine yellow stamens, then take on a beige to light brown hue as they ripen. Their shape recalls a fox's tail, giving rise to the name Alopecurus, formed from the Greek words for fox and tail. Its foliage dries out in hot or dry summers, but a pruning followed by watering encourages new leaves to appear when temperatures drop. This grass withstands cold below -25 °C and requires no winter protection. It tolerates clay, chalky or slightly acidic soils, provided they remain moist.

This variegated foxtail can be used to edge a path, brighten the front of a border, or form a small pool of light on a bank, above the water level. Its foliage sets off the blue-violet spikes of the Camassia leichtlinii ‘Caerulea’ and the deep blue flowers of the Iris sibirica ‘Caesar’s Brother’. The Persicaria bistorta ‘Superba’, with its soft pink spikes, flowers at the same time in moist to wet soil. This variety tolerates mowing, which explains its occasional use in certain landscaping schemes to create a variegated meadow effect. However, it is not intended for areas subject to foot traffic.