Cocksfoot Grass is a member of the Dactylis family. Its botanical name is Dactylis glomerata. The scientific name epithet glomerata means 'clustered in a round mass'.

Cocksfoot is a strongly tufted, deep-rooted, long-lived, cool-season perennial reaching a height of 60-150 cm, producing a continuous growth of young leaves and can withstand heavy grazing. It is used for pasture, hay and silage.

It may also be used as a ground cover, in order to control soil erosion and for lawns or ornamental borders.  It is used as hay or foraging grass for cattle, pigs, geese, rabbits, horses and donkeys.  It is apparently also palatable for for domestic cats and dogs to graze on in the home garden.

The main advantage of cocksfoot is greater forage production during summer compared to other forage grasses: it stays green after most prairie grasses have dried. Because of its shade tolerance cocksfoot is also used in Europe to establish vegetation cover in vineyards or orchards.

As a deep-rooted perennial grass, cocksfoot is an excellent ground cover and may be used in rehabilitation applications: soil erosion control on cut-over forest land or on slopes, rehabilitation of sites disturbed by mining. 

In some countries, it is considered an invasive species, especially in the eastern United States. 

Cocksfoot Grass grows as a perennial and is a grass. Being a perennial plant, it tends to grow best over several years (approx 3 years and greater).

Cocksfoot Grass is known for growing to a height of approximately 1.40 metres (4.55 feet).

Try planting Cocksfoot Grass if you'd like to attract butterflies to your garden.