Avena sterilis aka Animated Oat

Avena sterilis is an annual grass known as winter wild oat. Other names include animal oat, animated oat and fly oat. It belongs to the grass family, Poaceae. Plants For A Future places its native range in Mediterranean Europe. The RHS lists it as non-native to Britain and Ireland. It grows in meadows, farmed ground and dry waste places. It often occurs where soils are heavy.

This grass reaches about 3.3 feet (1 metre) in height. It completes its life cycle within a single year. Flowers appear from June to July, with both sexes in each flower. Wind carries the pollen between flowers. Seeds ripen from August through October, after the flowering season. These seeds provide its main food use. The plant sometimes grows as a seed crop. Its yields fall below those of cultivated oats, Avena sativa.

Choose an open site with full sun and soil that drains well. The plant cannot grow in shade. It suits loam and clay, including heavy clay. Moderately fertile soil supports growth, while dry or moist conditions suit it. It also tolerates drought once growing. Its reported soil pH range runs from 4.5 to 8. Plants For A Future describes it as frost hardy. Sow seeds where they will grow in spring or autumn. Cover them lightly; germination should take about two weeks.

The seeds have a mild taste and a floury texture. Cook them whole or grind them into flour for food. Uses include porridge, biscuits, bread and both sweet and savoury dishes. Sprouted seeds can go into salads or cooked meals. Roasted seeds can serve as a coffee substitute. Dried seed can remain in storage for several years. Plants For A Future lists no known hazards or medicinal uses. This does not establish safety for every person or animal.

The straw supplies fibre, mulch, paper material and thatching. It also has use as a biomass crop. Take care when using oat straw around strawberries. It can introduce stem and bulb eelworm to that crop. Birds may eat the whole seed crop on small plots. Netting can help protect a garden harvest. The plant also has weed potential, which matters when choosing a site. Its possible role in oat breeding offers another use. Plants For A Future notes potential gains in disease resistance and yield.