Wild Oat
Avena fatua
Also known as: Western Oat
- Native to:
- Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Austria, Azores, Baleares, Baltic States, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Is., Cape Verde, China, Corse, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Gulf States, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Krym, Kuwait, Lebanon-Syria, Libya, Madeira, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, North Caucasus, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Sardegna, Saudi Arabia, Sicilia, Sinai, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Taiwan, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Yemen
Alvesgaspar
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Genus:
- Avena
- Species:
- Avena fatua
- USDA Symbol:
- AVFA
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid
- Height:
- 120 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul
- Bloom Colors:
- green, tan
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Common Wood-Nymph (Cercyonis pegala)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- well-drained, sandy to loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- thrives in disturbed soils
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–14 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily with adequate moisture and moderate temperatures; no dormancy breaking required.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI