Smutsfinger grass is a summer perennial forage grass. It has a good digestibility and palatability and is suitable for direct grazing, hay-making and silage. It is drought and cold resistant and can grow in most soil types. Smutsfinger has an inherent dormancy that makes it slow to establish, which is why it is usually planted in conjunction with other perennial grasses in the form of a mixture, rather than being planted on its own.