yorkshire fog

holcus lanatus

• Very common grass
   
• Soft, grey hairy leaves
   
• The flowering "plumes" are often purple-tinged
   
• Peel back the basal leaves to reveal its unique pink striped fleshy stem - "stripy pyjamas"
   

Creeping soft grass (holcus mollis), which most commonly occurs in woods, looks very similar but has ‘hairy knees’ at junctions along the stem.
 

Where found

All grassland and waste ground.
 

Record seasonal events

You can help scientists monitor the effect of climate change on yorkshire fog by telling us the date when you first see it flowering where you live

• First flowers May-June