Cocksfoot is a tufted, perennial grass that is best adapted to cool-season production. Due to the abundance of leaves produced, it does not lose much quality in winter or when it becomes reproductive.

 

It grows strongly during spring and autumn, with poor growth during winter and limited summer growth (not as strong as Tall Fescue). This grass is the most drought-tolerant among the temperate perennials and is best adapted to areas where the annual rainfall exceeds 700 mm and distribution correlates with the crop’s production curve. In South Africa, cocksfoot is normally planted under irrigation, often in blends with other temperate species.