The harestail grass or denb il-fenek in Maltese is probably native to steppes, garigues and sand dune grasslands, but has become weedy, and essentially grows in most habitats.

This plant grows as grass with one or few erect stems and an unmistakable dense, oval, whitish, hairy inflorescence not unlike a rabbit’s or hare’s tail (hence the vernacular names). The flowers appear between March and May.