Common Wild Oats

Overview

Common Wild Oats (Avena fatua) is an annual grass that is often found growing throughout temperate climates. It grows quickly and is even considered a weed in many parts of the world. Common Wild Oats is easy to recognize with its slender, flattened spindles at the tips of the panicles and its alternating, blueish-green leaves on the stems. Its stems can grow as tall as thirty-eight inches with spindles of rolled oats that can reach up to 16 inches long. The rolled spindles easily disperse the plant's seedheads in the wind and can quickly establish a new population. Common Wild Oats is most often considered a nuisance and a weed, but its quick spread and impressive growth are admired by many.

Care Guide