Quercus

Wild Oats

Avena fatua

Not native to Kentucky

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

20CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including KY

Genus host records with ranges including KY · Avena

  • Agrotis gladiariaSwordsman Dart, Clay-Backed Cut-Worm
  • Agrotis ipsilonIpsilon Dart, Black Cutworm, Greasy Cutworm
  • Agrotis venerabilisVenerable Dart, Dusky Cut-Worm
  • Anicla infectaGreen Cutworm Moth
  • Apamea amputatrixYellow-Headed Cutworm Moth
  • Apamea devastatorGlassy Borer, Glassy Cutworm Moth
  • Cercyonis pegalaCommon Wood Nymph
  • Dargida diffusaWheat Head Armywotm Moth
  • Elasmopalpus lignosellaLesser Cornstalk Borer
  • Euxoa detersaRubbed Dart, Sandhill Cutworm
Show all 20
  • Feltia jaculiferaDingy Cutworm
  • Fissicrambus mutabilisStriped Webworm, Striped Sodworm, Changeable Grass-Veneer
  • Helicoverpa zeaCorn Earworm Moth
  • Leucania pseudargyriaFalse Wainscot
  • Melanchra pictaPainted Arches, Zebra Caterpillar Moth
  • Mythimna unipunctaArmyworm Moth, White Speck
  • Papaipema nebrisStalk Borer
  • Spodoptera frugiperdaFall Armyworm Moth
  • Xestia c-nigrumSpotted Cut-Worm, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Lesser Black-letter Dart
  • Xestia dolosaGreater Black-Letter Dart, Greater Spotted Cutworm
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
—BeesSoutheastern regional records
—Specialist beesPollen specialists
39BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Avena

  • Agelaius phoeniceusRed-winged Blackbird
  • Agelaius tricolorTricolored Blackbird
  • Anser albifronsGreater White-fronted Goose
  • Anthus rubescensAmerican Pipit
  • Aphelocoma californicaCalifornia Scrub-Jay
  • Calcarius lapponicusLapland Longspur
  • Callipepla californicaCalifornia Quail
  • Cardinalis cardinalisNorthern Cardinal
  • Columba liviaRock Pigeon
  • Corvus brachyrhynchosAmerican Crow
Show all 39
  • Cyanocitta stelleriSteller's Jay
  • Eremophila alpestrisHorned Lark
  • Euphagus cyanocephalusBrewer's Blackbird
  • Gymnorhinus cyanocephalusPinyon Jay
  • Junco hyemalisDark-eyed Junco
  • Melanerpes erythrocephalusRed-headed Woodpecker
  • Meleagris gallopavoWild Turkey
  • Melospiza melodiaSong Sparrow
  • Melozone crissalisCalifornia Towhee
  • Molothrus aterBrown-headed Cowbird
  • Passer domesticusHouse Sparrow
  • Passerculus sandwichensisSavannah Sparrow
  • Patagioenas fasciataBand-tailed Pigeon
  • Perdix perdixGray Partridge
  • Phasianus colchicusRing-necked Pheasant
  • Pheucticus ludovicianusRose-breasted Grosbeak
  • Pheucticus melanocephalusBlack-headed Grosbeak
  • Pipilo maculatusSpotted Towhee
  • Plectrophenax nivalisSnow Bunting
  • Quiscalus quisculaCommon Grackle
  • Spinus tristisAmerican Goldfinch
  • Spizella passerinaChipping Sparrow
  • Spizella pusillaField Sparrow
  • Sturnus vulgarisEuropean Starling
  • Turdus migratoriusAmerican Robin
  • Tympanuchus phasianellusSharp-tailed Grouse
  • Xanthocephalus xanthocephalusYellow-headed Blackbird
  • Zonotrichia atricapillaGolden-crowned Sparrow
  • Zonotrichia leucophrysWhite-crowned Sparrow
Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)
Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Poaceae

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope
  • Bloom · “Mid spring” · USDA PLANTS via EOL TraitBank · Nationwide approximate species characteristics; tolerance categories do not specify sun hours or moisture requirements
  • Height · “About 4 feet” · USDA PLANTS via EOL TraitBank · Nationwide approximate species characteristics; tolerance categories do not specify sun hours or moisture requirements
Also known as

Wild Oats

Conservation status

Kentucky rankSNA
Global rankNot available
KY statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source

Native alternatives

Find natives for your garden

Sources