Timothy is a good perennial grass that can survive harsh winters and wet soils better than most cool-season grasses. Most often grown for hay, timothy produces high yields at first cutting, but slow regrowth results in low yields thereafter. Timothy is not normally recommended for pasture because it has poor grazing tolerance.

In northern states and Canada, timothy is productive for four to five years, but longevity averages two years in the transition zone. Timothy grass seed heads often resemble that of foxtail but it still retain the same bluish-green color of the leaf blades.