The species forms dense swards leading to low botanical diversity.

This species is widely cultivated for pasture and hay, and has become naturalised in many areas outside its native range, including Australia and North America.

Any survey work carried out in mid-summer may miss the grass as a result of this.

The stem is erect and hard at the shaft, the sheathes being smooth and cylindrical.

Its spikelets have twin hornlike projections arranged in cylindrical panicles, while meadow foxtail has a single soft awn.