Crested Dogstail (Cynosurus cristatus) — A Traditional Pasture Grass for Sheep & Meadow Mixtures
Crested Dogstail is one of Britain’s most familiar traditional pasture grasses, found in abundance in old sheep pastures and ancient meadows across the country. A compact, tufted perennial, it’s not aggressive by nature — which makes it a valuable component in non-competitive environmental and wildflower mixtures where more vigorous species would crowd out delicate companions. It grows well late into the season when other grasses are winding down, and its ability to stay green through winter makes it a quiet but reliable contributor to the sward.
What It’s Used For
Crested Dogstail is most at home as a component of traditional pasture swards, particularly in sheep grazing systems. It’s also well-suited to non-aggressive environmental mixtures, traditional grass leys, and grass and wildflower seed blends where a fine, uncompetitive species is needed to fill the base of the sward without dominating.
How Long Will It Last?
A true perennial, Crested Dogstail is well-adapted to persist in the sward over the long term. Its wiry spikelets are often bypassed by grazing livestock, allowing the plant to reseed itself regularly. It favours management by cutting or hay-making and does not cope well in aggressive, tall swards with heavy shading.
Key Strengths
- Good winter greenness — stays productive later in the season than many comparable species
- Non-aggressive — ideal for wildflower and environmental mixtures
- Leafy lower growth is palatable to livestock, particularly sheep
- Tolerates cold conditions and dry periods well
- Self-seeding tendency supports long-term persistence
Frost Tolerance
Crested Dogstail has good cold tolerance and will remain green well into winter under appropriate management.
Sowing Rate
- Pure stand: 10 kg/acre (25 kg/ha)
Note that Crested Dogstail seed is relatively expensive compared to some other traditional grasses, reflecting its small seed size (around 2,000,000 seeds per kg) and specialist nature.
When to Sow
This species can be sown at most times of year. Warm soils with adequate moisture will speed up germination and establishment.
Management
Without regular cutting or grazing, Crested Dogstail will produce wiry stems that can stand through autumn and winter. A hay cut or regular grazing regime will keep the sward leafy and productive, and will favour the long-term persistence of the species.
Identifying the Crop
Seed: Oval to ovate, tapering to a point at one end. Shiny, smooth, light to medium brown. One of the smaller grass seeds at just 2 mm in length.
Mature plant: Leaves are smooth and shiny on the underside, rough on the upper surface, tapering to a fine point. Leaf sheaths are short. Ligules are short and collar-like. Culms are topped with distinctive one-sided panicles containing both fertile and sterile spikelets — green and often tinged with purple. Flowers June–July.
Works Well With
Crested Dogstail is a natural companion to other fine, traditional grass species including smaller catstail, red fescue, and sheep’s fescue. It’s a classic component of traditional meadow and pasture mixtures.
Find Crested Dogstail in Our Mixtures
Crested Dogstail features in several of our traditional, slow-growing, and land restoration seed mixtures: