Setaria faberi

Giant Foxtail, Chinese foxtail, Chinese millet, giant bristlegrass, nodding foxtail, Japanese bristlegrass

Description: summer annual 

Place of origin: temperate Asia 

Urban habitat: commonly found in waste areas, disturbed habitats, fields, median strips, along roadsides; drought tolerant, thrives in direct sun and in a variety of soil types. 

Ecological function: disturbance-adapted pioneer species; food and habitat for wildlife and livestock.

History: Setaria faberi was introduced into the US accidentally as a seed contaminant in the 1920s and is more commonly found in rural areas than in urban places. It is now considered naturalized in much of the US, Canada and Mexico. There is evidence that Setaria faberi produces secondary alleopathic chemicals that inhibit the growth of nearby plants.