Timothy is an important grass crop grown primarily for hay. It grows in tufts 11/2 to 31/2 feet (46 to 107 centimeters) high. The slender, leafy stems bear round spikes of tiny, tightly packed flowers. Timothy is a cool season plant native to northern Europe and Asia. Timothy is also called herd’s-grass. The English call it cat’s-tail.
Timothy is a perennial—that is, it grows every year without replanting. But, it does not live long if animals graze on it continually, or if it is harvested in an immature stage. The quality of timothy hay is improved when the plant is grown with clover or alfalfa. In the United States and Canada, the first cutting of timothy is frequently harvested for hay or silage. Later cuttings are left in the pasture for grazing.
